Achieving a Competent, Confident Social Services Workforce

Tuesday, 15 October 2002 13:33

Monday June 24, 2002

Cathy Jamieson, Minister for Education and Young People, will address the first major conference of the new Scottish Social Services Council, in Glasgow on 24 June, on the theme of achieving a competent, confident workforce. Services users, carers, social service employees, employers, and trade unions will have the opportunity to contribute to the debate on how to deliver the highest standards of care for those who use social care services. The process of regulating 100,000 social service workers in the public, voluntary and private sectors will also be a key theme of the day. The conference will discuss how to achieve a skilled and educated workforce and address the difficult issue of how to recruit and retain social services staff.

Morag Alexander, Convener of the Scottish Social Services Council said: 'Our first major conference will give us an opportunity to hear from those who have a stake in the work of the SSSC. We have a challenging task ahead of us in regulating the social services workforce and it is vital that we continue to consult with these key groups.'

The Scottish Social Services Council, established on 1 October 2001, has the responsibility to promote high standards of conduct and good practice among social services. Its overall aim is to protect service users and carers and secure the confidence of the public in social services. The SSSC will regulate the social services workforce through registration of key groups of staff. It will establish codes of conduct and practice. In addition, it will regulate education and training in the sector.