New National Skills Academy for Social Care appoints first director

The Minister of State for Care Services, Phil Hope, has welcomed the appointment of former National Voices project director Liz McSheehy as the new director of the National Skills Academy for Social Care.

Ms McSheehy was formerly responsible for developing and launching National Voices as a national charity to represent people who use health and social care services.

The National Skills Academy for Social Care is still in its business planning stage, but will eventually target learning support and training practice to the 1.5 million adult social care workers in England. Particular emphasis will be on small and medium sized organisations with limited development and training budgets. When it becomes fully operational by autumn this year, it will be the first welfare-related Skills Academy in the National Skills Academy network.

"I am thrilled to be leading the National Skills Academy for Social Care as it will provide a real opportunity to meet the skills and training challenges identified by employers’ right across the sector," she said

"It is vital that we are able to successfully respond to policy and demographic changes and provide an excellent service to people who use adult social care. This agenda is at the heart of the National Skills Academy for Social Care and with the support of employers we will succeed."

Mr Hope commented: "High-quality adult social care is essential to the wider social and economic life of communities. Liz’s background in both user-focused health and social care and in business development means that she is well placed to work closely with employers and people who use care services, to ensure high quality, relevant products for this vital and growing sector.

"I look forward to working with Liz and the National Skills Academy for Social Care in improving the skills and raising the profile of the sector."

(Pictured left to right: Director of the consultancy Beyond Standards, David Sherlock, with Liz McSheehy and Phil Hope)