A new interactive resource to help social care practitioners navigate their continuous learning and career options was unveiled by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (the Social Care Council) today.
The Social Care Council is committed to giving social care practitioners a clear career progression pathway, continuous learning and information so they can pursue opportunities, qualifications and a lifelong career in social care.
Funded by the Department of Health, the Care in Practice Framework online interactive web resource, accessed via the Social Care Council website at: careinpractice.niscc.info is dedicated to helping social care practitioners navigate and explore social care career pathways and support individuals to make informed career choices.
A tool to inspire – follow your career journey in social care
The new online interactive web resource provides:
- Information about the Care in Practice (CiP) Framework which was launched in December 2024 by the Department of Health, alongside the new Social Care Workforce Strategy.
- Social care practitioners can follow two interlinked pathways set out as part of the Framework including a Continuous Learning Pathway and a Qualification Pathway.
- Career progression pathways are laid out to help social care practitioners see a social care career pathway, featuring summaries at each level, links to additional resources and case studies with stories and films from social care practitioners about their career progression.
- Easier access to information about qualifications to support career progression in social care which will help social care practitioners move through their desired pathway.
- Supporting the social care workforce’s continuous professional learning and development planning.
- It is also available for those who are thinking about a career in social care so that they can be informed in advance of selecting social care as their career of choice.
The new interactive web resource was launched at the Social Care Council’s Social Care Managers Forums this week at the Dunsilly Hotel (3 June) and Seagoe Hotel (5 June) where social care practitioners, managers, employers and leaders got to have a look at the online resource in detail and ask questions about the CiP Framework.
New era for social care career progression
Declan McAllister, Interim Chief Executive, Social Care Council believes the new online interactive web resource will be a gamechanger for social care practitioners as they progress through their career.
“There are many exciting job prospects for those interested in social care in Northern Ireland. Providing quality continuous learning guidance and direction through the CiP Framework, using this interactive web resource, is central to preparing them to start and then progress in a career in social care. The CiP framework will lead to new and exciting, and most of all, meaningly pathways for learning and development across the social care profession.”
Jane McMillian, Professional Social Work Officer, Department of Health highlighted the importance of better training and workplace support for the social care workforce.
“Improving and supporting the career pathway for social care practitioners is something that is often raised with me – and this new online resource will go a long way to giving those thinking of a career and those already working in social care, the support they need for a lifelong career delivering social care.“
“It’s important to recognise there are a range of options for social care practitioners to learn and develop and this interactive resource will help practitioners to map their career and learning pathway. We are very proud to be working with the Social Care Council and the social care sector on this initiative.”
Want to know more? Explore your way forward by getting started now
- You can access the new free interactive web resource on the Social Care Council website here: careinpractice.niscc.info.
- If you have a question about the new resource, contact: workforcedevelopment@niscc.hscni.net.
- How did we get here? Take a look at our information on social care workforce reform in Northern Ireland.
Notes to editors
- Interview requests: Social care practitioners and social care managers, along with Social Care Council staff who have led on this work will be available for interview about the launch, and the difference this resource will make to their career progression.
- Images: Photographs from the launch, including social care practitioners, are available upon request.
For more media queries please contact:
Rita McCullagh, Head of Strategic Communications and Engagement
Rita.mccullagh@niscc.hscni.net
07591447804