£1 million for care worker training

Hundreds of care workers will be supported to get necessary qualifications with more than £1 million funding from the Scottish Government.

The funding will support 700 social service staff to get the qualifications they need for registration with the workforce’s national regulator, the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). 

The Voluntary Sector Development Fund money is being allocated to 79 charities which provide care at home and housing support services.

Announcing the funding, Minister for Childcare and Early Years Mark McDonald said:

“This valuable investment will support employers in ensuring that we have a skilled workforce delivering high quality care to the most vulnerable people in our society.   

“The Voluntary Sector Development Fund has been supporting charities since 2003 to make sure that we have a competent, skilled and valued social services workforce in Scotland.

 “Our commitment for a skilled and valued workforce is part of our strong commitment to deliver high quality and effective social services.”

Background

Support workers in care at home and housing support are the final group of social care workers to be added to the SSSC register, with registration commencing in October subject to Parliamentary approval.

The criteria for applications is set by the Scottish Government in partnership with the Scottish Social Services Council and the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland.

The fund is intended to aid voluntary organisations, particularly small-medium sized organisations, to ensure that staff meet the registration requirements set by the Scottish Social Services Council. The funding can be used directly to fund or support new training and development needs associated with meeting the requirements for registration with the SSSC.

As well as its regulatory role, the SSSC is the Sector Skills Council for the social services workforce and has a key workforce development role, supporting employers and staff across the workforce that makes up the sector in Scotland.