Carers: Training
15th May 2007
Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had recently with (a) educational bodies and (b) carers organisations on improving access to skills opportunities for carers; and if he will make a statement. [121270]
Phil Hope: Officials in my Department and in the Learning and Skills Council have discussed with Skills for Care, the Sector Skills Council for the care sector, how the national employer training programme in England, Train to Gain, could be made more relevant to the needs of employers and employees within the care sector, and are currently considering proposals.
In England, Train to Gain offers employers in all sectors easy access, via a free skills brokerage service, to a full range of training provision including fully subsidised training leading to a Skills for Life or first full level 2 qualification, such as a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at level 2. At the end of March 2007 a total of 6,550 employers from the health and social work sector had been engaged by Train to Gain which, at 21 per cent., represents the largest level of sectoral engagement in the programme. That is consistent with Train to Gain's predecessor—the Employer Training Pilots—where the care sector represented 26 per cent. of participating employers.
From September 2006, all adults in England who do not have a full qualification at level 2 are entitled to free tuition to get one, even if they do not work for an employer who is involved with the Train to Gain programme. They can access this level 2 entitlement through their local further education college or a range of other publicly funded training providers.
The Department of Health, together with 13 other Government Departments, has recently made a Skills Pledge commitment to train those staff members without a first full level 2 qualification and we anticipate this will lead to benefits for others who work in its sector including carers.
