A n overview
Chapter 1 Introduction
We have an ambitious vision for the social service workforce. That is of a workforce which is competent to respond to changing needs, confident that it can make a positive difference to people's lives and valued for the contribution it makes to Scottish society. Learning and development is integral to this vision and to equipping the sector to respond to the challenges of the 21st century.
The strategy focuses on the development of the social service workforce and to support all those involved in delivering social services to give of their best. It puts forward positive solutions to the challenges facing the whole workforce.
KEY MESSAGES
- Everyone with an interest in social services now needs to make sure the workforce is able to develop and respond positively to changing demands.
- Developing the workforce is critical to ensuring we have the right people, with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time.
Chapter 2 Effective Workforce Development
In an environment that is changing as rapidly and as frequently as the social service sector, the workforce needs to be highly flexible. It needs to be forward looking, adapting traditional roles and professional boundaries or practices to address the changes in the sector. Care needs to be delivered through a team-working approach, which simplifies the service user's path through the social service maze. This means forging multi-disciplinary, multi-skilled and multi-professional working stretching across the health, education, justice and housing sectors as well as the social service sector and oriented around seamless and efficient service provision at the 'front end', rather than staff demarcations. This is a challenging change to make, but much is already happening to make it a reality.
KEY MESSAGES
- To be successful in developing a learning culture everyone must play their part.
- Opportunities and choices for staff to choose how to progress in their careers must be developed.
- Users and carers must be involved in workforce development to make sure that we are able to offer services that are suited to their needs.
Chapter 3 Spectrum of Learning and Development
Even with policies in place and managers and the organisation committed to the principle of actively supporting learning and development, it is important to acknowledge the challenging agenda presented by the need to address the full spectrum of learning and development needs in organisations ranging from induction, core social services qualification provision and continuing employee development for all staff.
KEY MESSAGES
- We need to find effective ways for people to gain recognition for the skills they already have.
- It's everyone's responsibility to make sure that employee development happens.
- We need to create opportunities for learning and development that allow people to learn in more flexible ways.
Chapter 4 Supporting Workforce Development
People who use services and carers need to know that those delivering social services bring with them the necessary skills and knowledge to meet their needs. Also that organisations support their workforce in their day to day roles by providing an environment which supports their learning and development throughout their careers. Then we will be able to make sure we have a workforce that is fit for purpose in the 21st century.
KEY MESSAGES
- We need to diversify the workforce to fully reflect Scotland's population and to respond to demographic challenges.
- Supporting workforce development can benefit employers through improved staff retention and through improved service delivery.
- Employers and training providers need to work in partnership to ensure learning supply meets the needs of employers.
Chapter 5 Resources
This strategy makes it clear that investment in the training of the social service workforce is vital for the future. Substantial resources are already available and come from a wide variety of sources. We need to make best use of existing resources, as well as currently under used sources of both funding and other assistance that are available, if we are to achieve a competent, confident and valued workforce. This will mean looking differently at how we use a range of resources and finding more effective ways of meeting the challenges.
KEY MESSAGES
- Training and workforce development must be integral to service planning.
- Effective use must be made of existing and under used resources to support workforce development.
Chapter 6 What Might Success Look Like?
Workforce development is important if we want to realise our ambition for a confident, ambitious Scotland with stronger, safer communities and a socially just and tolerant society. Social services have a key role to play in building the kind of Scotland we want to see in the 21st century. However, ensuring we have the right people, with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time is not just about providing high quality services for the most disadvantaged groups and individuals in our communities. It is about improved quality of life and enhanced opportunities for all in society.
KEY MESSAGES
- Leaders need to have a clear vision, be realistic about challenges and inspire and support staff to deliver the desired outcomes for service users and carers.
- Managers must see continuous improvement and development as the norm and take their staff with them to deliver their goals.
- Staff need to share the vision, contribute to making it happen, feel valued and supported and be well equipped.
chapter 7 a Plan for Action
This strategy is based on the belief that the success of social services in Scotland depends on all the people who work in them. Much has already been achieved.
However, there is still much to be done to ensure that the momentum everyone has worked hard to build, continues and that our long term plans become a reality. It is important that the actions identified are taken forward to turn the strategy into reality. Effective partnerships between a range of organisations will be needed to ensure success of the strategy. Monitoring and evaluation will also be important to ensure we are moving in the right direction.