Social Services - Workforce Plan for Adults Working in Social Care
The Borough Of Poole produced an Adult Workforce Plan 2005/2008 for the Social Care sector in Poole. The plan covered the workforce in both statutory and independent sectors.
Why is workforce planning important:
Accessing funding from sources such as
- Skills for Care
- Regional Development Agencies (RDA)
- Learning Skills Councils- Supports Organisations to meet National Standards e.g. National Minium Standards
- Improve staff retention
- Provides control of workforce issues such as succession planning, skills forecasting and recruitment strategies
- Helps with achieving business plan objectives
Work is currently underway to produce a new workforce plan 2008/11. It will need to take into account changing demands on the workforce, the creation of new types of worker, involvement of the migrant work force in social care and a demand for a better skilled and qualified workforce.
Part of the planning involves surveying the workforce in both the independent and statutory sectors. Results so far include indications that the social care workforce in Poole is 85% female. Age ranges includes
- 40% of the workforce aged over 50 in the Adult statutory social care sector as opposed to
- 26% in the independent sector.
- 46% of the statutory workforce is full time as compared to 49% in the independent sector.
The planning will include preparation of the workforce that will need to support an ageing population. There are currently
- 28,500 people living in Poole aged 65+
- 4,500 over the age of 85.
These figures are estimated to increase to
- 40,000 65+
- 7,000 85+ by 2013.
The aim of the 08/11 plan is to try and predict future demand for different types of staff and seeking to match this with supply, getting the right person, with the right skills in the right place at the right time, ensuring sufficient and appropriate training is provided.
Research and drafting of the 08 plan is currently in process with an aim for publication by Spring 2008.
Useful links:
If you would like any further information, please contact: 01202 633445
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