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Sector Skills Agreement for the Scottish social services sector
Sector Skills Agreements (SSAs) are developed by Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) in partnership with:
- employers
- training providers
- funders of training.
Sector Skills Agreements aim to ensure that public training resources and funding are directed at the priority skills needs of all sectors. SSAs outline how the SSC and employers will work with providers and funders to secure the necessary supply of training and outline how this goal will be achieved. Agreements aim to be forward looking, evidence based, driven by employers, action focussed and comprehensive.
The Scottish Social Services Council (as part of Skills for Care and Development, the Sector Skills Council for the social services sector) has developed a Sector Skills Agreement for the sector. The Sector Skills Agreement (SSA) has been developed in collaboration with employers, partners and key stakeholders in the social services sector.
How was the Sector Skills Agreement developed?
Each Sector Skills Agreement has five stages:
Stage 1: A sophisticated assessment is made of each sector to determine short-term, medium-term and long-term skills needs, and to map out the factors for change in the sector.
Stage 2: Current training provision across all levels is reviewed to measure its range, nature and employer relevance.
Stage 3: The main gaps and weaknesses in workforce development are analysed and priorities are agreed.
Stage 4: A review is conducted into the scope for collaborative action – engaging employers to invest in skills development to support improved business performance – and an assessment is made into what employers are likely to sign up to.
Stage 5: The final outcome is an agreement of how the SSC and employer will work with key funding partners to secure the necessary supply of training.
Written reports were prepared as part of stages 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the SSA for the Scottish social services sector. These reports can be accessed from the column on the right-hand side of this webpage.
Implementation of the SSA
Regular updates on the implementation of the Sector Skills Agreement will be available via the SSSC’s ebulletin, newsletter and website.
How to contact us
For further information about the Sector Skills Agreement for the social services sector contact Mike Docherty on 01382 207266 or e-mail mike.docherty@sssc.uk.com