The Northern Ireland Social Care Council (the Social Care Council) has welcomed the Department of Health’s launch of a Social Care Workforce Strategy for Northern Ireland saying it is a pivotal moment for the social care sector.
Commenting on the announcement Declan McAllister, Interim Chief Executive, Social Care Council said:
“The Social Care Council welcomes the Department’s launch of its first Social Care Workforce Strategy and sees this as a pivotal moment for the sector. The opportunities it creates for the social care workforce cannot be overstated. It gives us the opportunity to formally recognise the social care workforce’s development and learning and value them in a way we never have been able to before.”
The Social Care Council were asked by the Department of Health in 2021 to develop a continuous professional learning framework, career development pathway and qualification-based register for social care practitioners.
Alongside today’s strategy, the Care in Practice Framework was also launched which provides a career development and progression roadmap for the social care workforce. A new Level 2 Certificate in Safe and Effective Practice, a work-based entrance certificate is now available as an entry level qualification to new social care practitioners coming into the sector.
Speaking about the seven strategic priorities Mr McAllister added:
“The proposals outlined will support social care practitioners to thrive and grow professionally, with the hope of inspiring the next generation to choose social care as a career for life. Progress has already been made though the launch of the CiP Framework, and we are delighted to congratulate the first 17 social care practitioners who have completed the new Level 2 Certificate in Safe and Effective Practice
“We hope that in the coming months we can continue our partnership work with the Department of Health and social care sector partners, to help shape how the delivery of this strategy is taken forward.”
Mr Gerry Guckian, Acting Chair of the Social Care Council added:
“Social care practitioners work each day to transform lives in our communities for the better. Recognition of this sits at the heart of the new strategy, which for the first time provides the social care workforce with a clear roadmap to follow as they progress in their careers.”
Want to know more?
To support the reform of the social care workforce, a new practice framework called Care in Practice (CiP) is now in place within Northern Ireland. The new CiP framework is for everyone who is a registered social care practitioner and aims to support social care practitioners to develop professionally by providing two interlinked pathways: a continuous professional learning pathway and/or a qualification pathway to support your career progression.
A dedicated section on our website has been created and has up-to-date information on social care workforce reform and the CiP Framework. Check it out here.
For more information:
Rita McCullagh, Head of Strategic Communications and Engagement
Rita.mccullagh@niscc.hscni.net
07874682049