1. Skills for Care update June / July 2019
LCAS RM Network
3rd July 2019

2. Retention is key
To support your retention, we’ve produced handy key cards which build on our top five tips where employers can make a difference. 
Supportive induction
A positive place to work
Learning and development
Good working conditions
Rewards and recognition
Order your free copy by ing
Focusing on staff retention contributes to:
the continuity of high-quality care
a positive workplace culture
time and cost savings
employee wellbeing
positive CQC ratings.
Our new key cards share practical steps and ideas to increase the retention of staff in adult social care.
Based on feedback from employers and care workers we’ve identified the five main areas to improve employee retention.
Supportive induction
A positive place to work
Learning and development
Good working conditions
Rewards and recognition
In the resource we’ve included examples of things you can do in the short, medium and longer-term to improve your retention.

3. Developing managers
Our June/July campaign on developing managers includes:
the launch of a new online guide for developing new managers and deputies, with practical examples, checklists and case studies
information on the Workforce Development Fund, with enhanced funding allocated for developing managers
succession planning in your service
the importance of continuing professional development
valuing peer support through networking and membership. 
Follow the campaign at and on Twitter #DevelopingManagers

4. Learning disability and autism workforce report
Overview of the adult social care workforce supporting people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
Estimated 665,000 jobs - 41% of the adult social care workforce
Of those who held a relevant social care qualification: 46% level 2, 31% level 3 and 21% level 4 and above
29% average turnover rate
Average hourly pay for care workers: £9.81 in local authorities and £8.08 in the independent sector
Download the report

5. NMDS-SC update
The updated service will be known as the Adult Social Care (ASC) Workforce Data Set.
At every stage of development, we’ve been continuously testing out designs and usability, working with care providers of all sizes in every county in England.
It’s expected to be available by the end of July, although some providers are using a ‘light’ version already.
Existing NMDS-SC users will have their data transferred to the new service and will be kept informed about timescales.
The full functionality won’t all be available initially, but there’s a plan to keep releasing further functionality on a regular basis.
The way care providers can see and use their data and improving this for them is a key priority once the new service is ‘live’.
It is currently in development and care providers have influenced the design and development at every stage. We have worked with a wide range of sizes and service types across every county in England.
The new service is expected to be available by the end of July, although some care providers are using a ‘light’ version already and so we are getting lots of early feedback.
Existing NMDS-SC users will have their data transferred to the new service and they will be kept informed about timescales.
The full functionality will not be available initially, but there is a plan to keep releasing further functionality on a regular basis. For example, if some reports are not immediately available, we will tell providers this and tell them when we expect them to be accessible.
The way care providers can see and use their data and improving this for them is a key priority once the new service is ‘live’. We are also working with users to find out what they want, need and how they would like to see it.

6. Leadership programmes
NEW Leading Change, Improving Care programme – explores how to lead and manage change effectively within care team and services.
Moving Up programme - aimed at individuals from a Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background to help individuals progress in their career.
Top Leaders programme – aimed at senior managers to enhance leadership capabilities, expand political intelligence and increase personal impact to influence within organisation and across sectors.
New Directors - designed to meet the specific needs of new and aspiring Directors of Adult Social Services.
Find out more:
Programmes are not available to book on yet as they are currently going through a tender process.
The web pages have been rewritten and refreshed and are now much clearer as to what the programmes are about, who they are for and what people will learn. Contact details are available on the web pages if people want to express interest in a programme.
Programmes should be being run at similar times to previous years and promotion will start as soon as we have dates…..
- Moving up programme start November 2019
- New Directors programme start November 2019
- Top Leaders programme start January 2020
- Leading Change, Improving Care start February 2020
Leading Change, Improving Care is a new programme which is based on the Well-led Advanced programme which is not running this year. More information on the programme can be found

7. Valuable conversations seminar
New for 2019
This seminar has been developed for adult social care employers wanting to boost their staff retention by learning how to have ‘valuable conversations’ at work.
Communicating in a meaningful way helps staff feel heard, supported and empowered, which in turn increases loyalty and retention.
This full day seminar costs £120 +VAT. Discounts are available for our Registered Manager Members.
For more information
Staff need to know that they’re valued and their contribution is recognised in order for you to retain them. Communicating in a meaningful way helps staff feel heard, supported and empowered, which in turn increases loyalty and retention. This seminar has been developed for adult social care employers wanting to boost their staff retention by learning how to have ‘valuable conversations’ at work.
The seminar will equip you with a deeper understanding of behaviour as well as learning different communication styles. This can then help you establish and maintain effective working relationships as well as embed workplace values into everyday practices.
The seminar is a full day and costs £120 +VAT. Discounts are available for our Registered Manager Members.
There’s a seminar taking place in London on 18 July and other seminars will be run if there is demand.

8. Registered manager membership
Exclusive webinar content…
Hosted on the member-only pages of the Skills for Care website
Updated periodically throughout the year
Existing webinar topics include: CQC inspections; Building personal resilience; Effective supervision; Values based recruitment; and Building connections.
Join today at
Other benefits to becoming a member include:
a copy of the Social Care Manager’s Handbook when you join
monthly membership newsletter
member only Facebook group
membership logo
resource library
an online leadership toolkit

9. Stay connected…
For further information or support visit the Skills for Care website at
For updates sign up to our newsletter at