Social Care Workers Step Up To Management

The first group of students have graduated from a pioneering pilot scheme to better equip future managers in social care. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Twenty-three students received their Step Up to Management certificates at a graduation ceremony in Cardiff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The social care workers, who work in a variety of roles across the public, private and third sectors, successfully completed the Step Up to Management programme between November 2015 and September 2016. The ground-breaking pilot programme, which was run by the University of South Wales (USW) on behalf of the Care Council for Wales, aimed to give social care workers the knowledge and understanding they need to transition to a managerial role. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The programme received positive feedback from the students. One student found the course helped them better appreciate the policies and procedures for social care workers, saying: “We already had an understanding of what needed to be in place to support practice, but now we have a much better understanding of why these policies and procedures – and the legislation – are in place. I find myself now understanding why we do these things and I can explain them to my colleagues – for example, why we need the codes of practice and why they are important.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The students received their certificates from the Care Council for Wales’s Chair Arwel Ellis Owen. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Madhulata Patel, the Course Leader for the Step Up to Management certificate, said: “We are extremely pleased to have been involved with the development of this pilot award which has brought challenges and immense rewards for the students and the university.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sue Evans, the Care Council’s Chief Executive, said: “Congratulations to all the social care workers on completing the programme – it’s an incredible achievement. We know from an independent evaluation of the programme that it has had a real positive impact on the practice, confidence and motivation of these practitioners, supporting them to become the managers and leaders that social care needs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We will be using what we have learnt from this pilot to roll out a national Step Up to Management programme in 2017 and to inform a new set of health and social care qualifications. I would like to thank the University of South Wales, in particular the course leader Madhulata Patel and the members of the regional partnership group who oversaw this pilot and helped ensure its success.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Arwel Ellis Owen, Chair of the Care Council, said: “Social care managers are so important in making sure people receive high quality care and support. But the role is a complex and demanding one, and it’s crucial they have the knowledge, skills, understanding and attributes needed to lead and manage their teams. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The students came from a range of backgrounds, but they all have a passion to make a difference and become great managers. The programme was very challenging, but the students managed it while also juggling the demands of work and family life, and a number have already moved on to team leader or deputy manager roles. They should be very proud of their achievements.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​