Business Development

Reasons to Care About Staff Training

In every organisation, people are its biggest asset. This is especially true in people-centred businesses like health, housing and social care. In a sector where standards are carefully scrutinised, it makes sense to invest in staff development to ensure that the highest levels of care are consistently attained.  Providing first rate training for your staff helps them to feel valued and appreciated and gives them an added pride in their job. You will benefit from higher staff retention rates and your clients will benefit from improved consistency of care.

Improving Recruitment, Selection and Retention

Businesses which invest in staff development and training soon develop a reputation as good employers.  Offering training and qualifications - and, by extension, career development - makes you more attractive to potential applicants and you are likely to attract and retain a higher calibre of individual.  Improved rates of application gives you more choice of candidates and enables you to improve your selection process.  Investment in staff training promotes loyalty amongst your workforce. This in turn promotes a more consistent environment which benefits your business and the clients you care for.

Developing a learning culture

As more of your staff are trained and kept up to date with current regulations, procedures and thinking, they naturally cascade their new knowledge and skills to their colleagues.  Better understanding also promotes more reflective practice and staff will have more confidence in questioning outdated and inefficient procedures. Encouraging your staff to act on their training and address issues of inefficiency will create a sustainable culture of continuous improvement. The benefit to your business is that standards of care are not only maintained but enhanced.

Meeting Standards (COSLA)

In 2007, COSLA initiated a drive to regulate standards of care and professionalism throughout the care sector. Local Authorities in Scotland are now required to implement a quality standard relating to the numbers of staff who are qualified. Each Local Authority is responsible for ensuring that 45% of care staff are suitably qualified, with a further 5% in training, before they sanction an increase in the fees paid for care home services. By March 31st 2009, 55% of care staff must be suitably qualified and it is expected that the required percentage of qualified staff will increase annually. Care homes that have not achieved the required percentage will receive no increase in fees. In order to manage these changes, organisations need an effective workforce development strategy and an associated training and development plan. SCOTVQ can provide specialist advice and assistance to ensure that your organisation meets these requirements and continues to thrive.

Registration requirements SSSC (Scottish Social Services Council)

The SSSC (Scottish Social Services Council) is driving a staged initiative to increase the number of employees in the industry who are appropriately qualified.  By March 2009, 55% of employees in an establishment must have achieved this minimum standard if that establishment is to qualify for increased funding. The SSSC’s current aim is that everybody working in the HHSC sector will have reached level 2 standard by 2012 and that everybody working in that sector will be officially registered with the SSSC. The aim of this initiative is to improve the status of those working in this vital care sector and to drive up standards of professionalism within the industry.

CPD requirements

Every three years, those registered with the SSSC will be required to show they have undertaken Continuing Professional Development in order to remain on the register. The level of CPD required varies according to your level of responsibility. Most of our courses are credit rated and certificated which makes them ideal for demonstrating your commitment to CPD. Please contact us to discuss your CPD requirements.

Effective staff training is a vital ingredient for your future success and for your organisation to continue to grow and develop. Dr Jane Prior can undertake a thorough review of your current training needs and, in consultation with you, develop a coherent strategic plan for your future training needs to ensure that you achieve your developmental goals.

For more information on the qualifications offered by SCOTVQ click here.

For information on training tailored to your particular requirements click here.