Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) – supporting safe, competent and confident social care practice.
The social care workforce in Northern Ireland encompasses a diverse range of people, skills and service settings. It is the largest workforce in the region, providing care and support for individuals and families in every community. Older people make up the highest proportion of people receiving care and support from the social care workforce every day in nursing homes, residential homes, supported living, day care and in people’s own homes.
The social care workforce is employed by over 500 organisations across the statutory, private, and voluntary and community sectors. It is a dynamic workforce, adjusting to a changing environment for social care which is evolving as a central component of the transformation in health and social care in Northern Ireland.
The number of people working in social care must increase in the years ahead in response to the expected growth in the population of older people. The skills, knowledge and competence base of the social care workforce will also grow in response to the more complex nature of the care and support they will be required to provide.
At NISCC, we are working with all our partners in policy, commissioning, planning, training, education, service delivery and service user groups to facilitate creative approaches to workforce development in social care that will support safe, competent and confident practice in a changing care environment. For example, the number of people with dementia is expected to grow as a consequence of an ageing population. It is important that the social care workforce has the necessary skills and knowledge to provide the required standards of care, to provide a good quality of life at every stage of the condition and to ensure people can remain active and engaged for as long as possible.
People with dementia should expect support from workers who can confidently provide care which is tailored to their needs and interests, which minimises stress and encourages independence and choice. This requires a higher level of understanding and of knowledge and skill, not only for the social care workers but also for those who provide practice supervision and management. To build the social care workforce needed to support the increasing number of older people with dementia, we must be creative in securing the most resource efficient workforce development solutions that will have the greatest and most sustainable impact on social care practice. Underpinning this approach to workforce development is a commitment to the fundamental principles and standards of social care.
If we are to achieve high quality, person-centred care and support, then dignity must be at the centre of everything we do. Dignity focuses on the value of every person and informs the attitude and behaviours of everyone working in social care. This is central to the NISCC registration and regulation process for social care workers, ensuring commitment and accountability to the standards set out in the NISCC Code of Practice.
Older people wish to live healthy, fulfilling and independent lives. If they need care and support, they expect it to be delivered with dignity and respect from skilled and knowledgeable social care workers who are confident and competent in their care. This is not an unreasonable expectation. We continue in our drive to make it a reality.
Colin Conway, NISCC Chief Executive
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