Thousands of learners from all across Scotland have now benefitted from the innovative Preparing for Work in Health and Social Care programme, developed by the NHS Scotland Academy.
These dedicated digital resources are designed to assist individuals who are new to Health and Social Care, as well as those applying for the first time, helping get more people into the national workforce.
More than 12,000 people interested in a career in healthcare have now used the programme over the 3 years since its launch, marking a major milestone in the Academy’s mission to address workforce needs in the health and social care sectors.
The resource provides essential pre-induction information and training to help their journey into a new career.
This includes comprehensive learning modules covering core areas of practice for support workers, such as clinical observations, personal care, and palliative care.
Commenting on the success of the programme, which is a joint partnership between NHS Education for Scotland and NHS Golden Jubilee, Dr Clair Graham Head of Programme (Education) NHS Scotland Academy, said: “We are very proud of the impact our ‘Preparing for Work in Health and Social Care’ programme has had, with over 12,000 learners accessing this vital resource.
“This programme is crucial in supporting the NHS and social care opening the door to new and aspiring health and social care workers. This will give them the essential skills and knowledge they need to succeed.
“By providing accessible, high-quality training, we are helping to build a resilient and capable workforce ready to meet the evolving needs of patients across the country.”
Available digitally and accessible from any device, the programme offers an interactive learning experience with videos, educational modules, and quizzes to test knowledge.
The NHS Scotland Academy remains committed to supporting the development of a skilled and confident workforce, ensuring that both new and experienced support workers have access to the resources they need to succeed.
Gordon Paterson, NHS Education for Scotland (NES) Director of Social Care, said: “Social care provides person-led, preventative support that enables people to remain independent, safe, active and included in their local communities.
“The significant recruitment and retention challenges facing social care providers across Scotland make this a helpful resource for people considering a career in social care, or for preparing people once they have been recruited and before they take up employment.
“To build on this resource, the Social Care Directorate in NES is currently working with colleagues in the Scottish Social Service Council (SSSC) to develop a National Induction Framework for the social care workforce.
“This will deliver a national, portable passport that will provide a record of an employee's learning and help them to meet the SSSC CPL requirements.”
For more information about the ‘Preparing for Work in Health and Social Care’ programme, please visit: https://www.nhsscotlandacademy.co.uk/news/preparing-for-work-in-health-and-social-care/