SP Training Costs Pressure
(Financial pressures around registration on housing support workforce)
The Scottish Government and partners carried out research that has shown it will cost in the region of £120m to upskill the housing support workforce.
In order for workers to register with the Scottish Social Services Council they will have to possess certain qualifications. The register for housing support managers is due to open in 2010, and for supervisors and staff after that. Staff will then be able to register without the relevant qualifications so long as they express a commitment to completing qualifications within a given time.
The research group identified about 44,000 staff in Scotland providing housing support services. Of this number about 20% are currently undertaking further training for qualifications. However this leaves, potentially, 12,000 workers, 6,000 supervisors and 1,500 managers who still require upskilling by undertaking further qualifications.
It has been recognised that this is a cross directorate issue as many staff working as housing support staff are also providing care services. As such any additional funding should recognise this issue. Scottish Ministers have been alerted to this additional funding pressure being experienced by service providers.
This research was conducted by the Scottish Social Services Council, Supporting People Enabling Unit, Community Care Providers Scotland, and the Workforce Unit, in conjunction with the Scottish Government.
