European Care Certificate (ECC)‏

European Care Certificate

The European Care Certificate (ECC) aims to ensure consistent high quality of social care services across the EU. A partnership of 14 member states has created an agreed definition of what staff need to know as a minimum to work in the social care sector in any member country. The ECC is awarded to anyone who passes the ECC exam. Employers can then be confident that workers share a common value base and have the right basic knowledge. The ECC will improve employability and worker mobility across the EU in a sector where the majority of workers have no training or recognised qualification in care at all at entry level.

People Management e-zine better knowledge for better practice

June 2011 Welcome back to the People Management e-zine from SCIE, the Social Care Institute for Excellence - supporting your organisation in improving people management policies and practice. Visit the refreshed People Management resource to find out how we can support you.

Share best practice in health & social care Supervision is a critical aspect of the support that employers should provide. SCIE is seeking examples of good practice in three areas: The arrangements for supervision: By individual, by group, by line manager, and by senior practitioner. Content of supervision: in relation to reflective practice and related approaches. The benefits of supervision: this embraces staff wellbeing, staff retention and outcomes for people who use services. This also includes consultation for supervisors and or managers. We are particularly interested in supervision in integrated health and social care settings. Please check SCIE’s Good Practice Framework or email: peoplemanagement@scie.org.uk

Social care governance Social care governance focuses on the responsibility of individual workers and teams to continuously learn from and improve their practice. It encourages professionals to take real pride in their practice and enables them to introduce changes and achieve better outcomes for people who use services and carers.. SCIE’s publication Social care governance: a workbook based on practice in England shows how to develop a systematic way of checking and improving practice. It can empower people by helping them to keep focused and take charge of the change process in a time of uncertainty and upheaval.

Improving quality: Training and standards Providing support and training for workers to gain qualifications will increase the quality of social care. This can reduce staff turnover, improve the quality of your service and enhance the experience of people who use services. New developments in this area include: Refreshed Common Induction Standards Skills for Care have refreshed the Common Induction Standards for people entering social care, changing roles or employers within social care. The standards are designed to be met within a 12 week period to enable workers to demonstrate providing high quality care and support. The Managers Induction Standards (MIS) are currently being reviewed by a working group led by Skills for Care. Skills for Care Workforce Development Fund The aim of the Workforce Development Fund is to support the ongoing professional development of staff across the Adult Social Care Sector through vocational qualifications. It replaces what was previously called the Training Strategy Implementation Fund. The fund is for Adult Social Care providers within England. Please note tendering closes on 24 June, 2011. Qualifications Credit Framework The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) replaces the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). It offers a more flexible way of learning, by awarding credit for qualifications and units. This enables staff to gain qualifications at their own pace and learning style. European Care Certificate The European Care Certificate (ECC) aims to ensure consistent high quality of social care services across the EU. A partnership of 14 member states has created an agreed definition of what staff need to know as a minimum to work in the social care sector in any member country. The ECC is awarded to anyone who passes the ECC exam. Employers can then be confident that workers share a common value base and have the right basic knowledge. The ECC will improve employability and worker mobility across the EU in a sector where the majority of workers have no training or recognised qualification in care at all at entry level.

Personalisation: Making it happen Our latest report on Personalisation, productivity and efficiency provides key messages about how personal budgets can contribute to efficiency as well as giving people choice and control over their care and support. Three new films on Social Care TV look at examples of good practice in making personalisation work.

Your ideas Please send any topics or ideas which you would like to see in the e-zine and on the resource. Send your ideas to: peoplemanagement@scie.org.uk