The National Skills Academy for Social Care was launched on 13 October 2009. It will be working to develop training and learning practice on leadership, management and commissioning skills in adult social care.
It has launched a National Management Trainee Scheme, which has placed 20 graduates into employer organisations in the adult social care sector, for the first time, to develop future leaders for the sector. It is working with training providers to accredit and endorse training and will be commencing a pilot approach with these providers in the new year as well as working on delivering apprenticeships. The initial focus of the skills academy will be about improving the retention rates of those on social care courses.
The National Skills Academy for Social Care receives funding from the Learning and Skills Council and from the Department of Health. The following table sets out the funding to date.
2008-09 2009-10 Total Learning and Skills Council 187.5 1112.5 300 Department of Health 1,073.0 23,645.0 4,618 Total 1,160.5 3,757.5 4,918 1Learning and Skills Council funding is to end June 2009. 2Department of Health funding is for the full year.
Until the official launch on 13 October 20009, the Skills Academy as an organisation did not exist and funding was provided to the Social Care Institute of Excellence.