Pilot training scheme to create new adult care service managers

Introducing the NEW level 4 Transition to Leadership in Adult Care programme

A new training course designed to produce dozens of new health and social care managers – the first programme of its kind in England – has been launched in West Yorkshire.

The four-week Transition to Leadership in Adult Social Care course, which will be delivered by a mixture of in-person and online teaching, will see at least 72 current health and social care workers take the next steps to become a leader or manager before the end of the year.

The bridging course will prepare learners to take a Level 4 or Level 5 apprenticeship and comes at no cost to either the employer or the employee.

Who is eligible for the programme?

Anyone over the age of 19 working within health and social care and living in West Yorkshire is eligible for the course. The usual requirement for training of living in the UK for at least three years doesn’t apply to this course.

The training will be delivered by Realise and is fully funded by Skills Connect, a learning platform from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Creating leaders of the future

Lesley O’Connor, Head of Strategic development (Health and Social Care) at Realise, said: “With more than 150,000 vacancies in health and social care across the UK, recruitment and retention of staff remains an issue which needs further attention in the sector.

“Different approaches needed to provide a clear career pathway to help people progress and this programme is a great example of that. The emphasis is very much around managing innovation and change and ensuring health and social care settings in West Yorkshire have leaders of the future who are prepared to meet the challenges of being a modern-day manager in the sector.”

Kelly Townend, Contracts and Quality Manager at Skills Connect echoed this sentiment saying: “It’s crucial that we address skills shortages for health & social care with bespoke and employer-responsive programmes, to enable individuals to take the next steps in their career.”