Basic Skills Awareness English, Welsh and Maths for Work

English and Maths “Basic Skills” By basic skills we mean: “the ability to read, write and speak in English or Welsh and use mathematics at a level necessary to function and progress at work and in society in general.”

The National Perspective The extent of national basic skills need is described in the 2008 strategy document “Skills that Work for Wales” Welsh Assembly Government is fully committed to raising the levels of basic skills among the workforce

Basic Skills – The Challenge 25% of working age adults in Wales do not have literacy skills at Level 1 53% of working age adults do not have numeracy skills at Level 1 It is estimated that just under 50% of care assistants have basic skills needs

Basic Skills and Work Approximately 50% of adults with basic skills needs are already in the workforce 70% of the people who will make up the workforce in 2020 have already left compulsory education

Words Talk Numbers Count “Words Talk Numbers Count” is the National Basic Skills Strategy for Wales It includes a specific workplace strategy based on The Employer Pledge

The Employer Pledge Part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s National Basic Skills Strategy Intended for all companies - private, public, large or small It means that an employer pledges to “help employees with poor basic skills to improve those skills”

Why We Need the Employer Pledge Poor basic skills costs the Welsh economy almost £600 million per year Employers, through Future Skills Wales, CBI, Wales TUC and Sector Skills Councils all say that basic skills needs must be addressed Basic skills underpins vocational training, e.g. around 46% of level 1 NVQs need level 2 reading skills

Growth of the Employer Pledge By early 2009 around 450 employers had signed the Pledge and this number is growing all the time 16% of Pledge employers currently are from care The pledge is active in all regions of Wales in both the public and private sector

Why do Adults Have Basic Skills Problems? There is a variety of reasons: Missing school or a negative school experience Basic skills have become rusty through lack of use There are some skills gaps Current skills may be adequate but those needed for the future are not Migrant workers and others may need to improve English or Welsh

Some Effects of Poor Basic Skills Wastage – both in resources and time Errors in calculations Difficulties with writing and with written instructions Poor verbal communication leading to misunderstanding and errors Poor customer relations; both internal and external Reluctance to take on more responsibility Fear of technology and change

Workforce Development Priorities Social Care Recruitment Retention Progression routes CCW Induction and Qualification Framework Care Standards Excellence

Benefits of Addressing Basic Skills Needs Improved performance at work Improved customer care Reduction in number and severity of complaints Reduction in number and severity of accidents Improved levels of staff retention Supports requirements for health & safety, equal opportunities, Investors in People

Signing the Employer Pledge Sign the Pledge to demonstrate commitment to equal opportunities for all employees whatever their skills levels Write an Action Plan with help of Pledge Team to set out the steps intended to be taken to address needs Implement the Action Plan – make basic skills the same as any other identified training need Monitor progress

Small Grants Programme Funding is available to support basic skills training in the workplace Employer Pledge Grants are paid directly to employers to deliver basic skills training in the workplace. The grants are available as part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s “Words Talk Numbers Count” National Strategy

Wales Union Learning Fund Unions may put in bids for WULF grants to support a range of workplace training The current funding round runs to innovative projects have been delivered so far including tackling basic skills needs and developing language learning for migrant workers

Examples of Good Practice Awareness raising for managers and supervisors Embedding in staff appraisals and corporate training Short job/task specific courses, workshops, Learn Direct Simplification of paperwork Spelling or numeracy dictionaries “Work and Skills” leaflets “Words Talk Numbers Count” little books

Slide no.18 For Further Information Sandra Morton Basic Skills Cymru