Barriers lifted to allow trained 16-18 year olds to work in personal care
Skills for Care says major changes to rules on 16-18 year olds providing personal care will boost recruitment.
In a Press Relase dated June 20 2008, Skills for Care (the Sector Skills Council for Care) says major changes in care regulations allowing well trained 16-18 year olds to provide personal care will help recruit more young workers and help care businesses grow. The Department of Health’s National Minimum Standards (NMS) for care used to state that ‘staff providing personal care to service users must be aged 18’ and Skills for Care have been campaigning to have this restriction lifted for young people with the right training and supervision. The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and the Department of Health have worked closely to develop a more flexible approach, allowing 16-18 year olds to provide personal care as long as they are suitably trained/competent and are appropriately supervised. The new guidelines also make it clear that care homes must fulfill appropriate regulations and the person who receives the care must have their choices respected as far as possible regarding who performs the task for them. Care workers under 18 who want to deliver personal care must have completed or be undertaking the Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care and have satisfied their line manager of their competence to carry out these tasks. “This is a very significant change in the regulations governing how care workers under 18 can deliver personal care and is a reflection of the rapid growth of the Apprenticeship in Health and Care that is producing well trained young workers,” says Skills for Care CEO Andrea Rowe. “This flexible approach to the regulation means that the dignity and safety of people who use services is balanced against the aspirations of young social care workers to play a full role in their establishments. “It removes unnecessary barriers to recruiting and retaining young staff when the recruitment and retention of staff is a massive challenge for our sector especially as we estimate we will need at least 2 million care staff by 2025. “It will also help employers recruit young workers into our sector and help retain them, as they will now be able to carry out the full range of duties based on their competence not just their date of birth.” Telehone VTS on 01702 353557 for more information.
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