October 16th 2024
Skills for Care’s annual state of adult social care and workforce report is an excellent example of how data provides insights and informs decisions.
The publication of Skills for Care’s report is a key date for our sector each year.
Speaking about the report, Katie Thorn, Project Lead, Digital Care Hub said:
“It’s easy to take Skills for Care’s report for granted – the sector has become accustomed to having this regular, robust analysis every year. Every organisation – from policy makers, to commissioners and providers – can use and filter this data to gain national and local insights and inform decisions. That’s the real power of data – it can help us to create a clearer, and hopefully shared, picture of where we are as a sector, and what we need to do next. We encourage everyone to contribute to and make use of this type of analysis.”
Skills for Care’s report also reveals that there is still some way to go to ensure care staff have the training they need on data protection. According to the report, 54% of staff have achieved or are working towards Care Certificate Standards which include information handling.
Staff at workplaces where some training information has been recorded in ASC-WDS and shows the most common areas of training were: ‘Moving and handling’ (49%), ‘Safeguarding adults’ (49%) and ‘Infection control’ (45%). ‘Confidentiality and GDPR’ was just 25%.
The report also indicates that staff retention and Care Quality Commission ratings are better for services that provide training – highlighting the value of getting this right.
Theses issues – including the importance of developing digital and data protection skills – are recognised in the national workforce strategy – also led by Skills for Care and informed by stakeholders and valuable data.
Reflecting on training needs, Daniel O’Shaughnessy, Head of Programme Delivery, Digital Care Hub said:
“Keeping people’s information safe is really a safeguarding issue. Care records are private, sensitive data. Care providers do of course understand that, but keeping on top of individual staff member’s practice, and the increasingly sophisticated attacks by cyber criminals is really challenging.
“We encourage all providers to access Better Security, Better Care’s free support – including elearning and classroom resources for frontline staff, practical guidance, sample policies and direct support from our national and local teams.
“We look forward to continuing to work closely with Skills for Care and partners to improve our sector’s safe use of data and digital systems.”
Visit Digital Care Hub’s Digital Skills and Training section.
Access Skills for Care’s State of the adult social care sector and workforce report
Access A workforce strategy for adult social care in England
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