CWDC Sector Skills Agreement Reports

The Children's Workforce and Development Council have analysed the skills needed for the 500,000 members (the majority of which are early years and childcare providers, 70%; and children & families social care, 15%). They found that besides the generic skills (literacy, numeracy, communication, interpersonal skills and ICT) the sector also needs skills to:
• ensure the safety of children and young people;
• raise aspirations and encourage children and young people to fulfil their potential;
• help individuals to work in multidisciplinary teams which make connections between
different agencies;
• prepare staff for work with children, young people and families.

Those in management roles need additional generic skills including:
• leadership and management;
• commissioning and negotiation.

The survey also found that qualifications are the highest barrier for people moving between jobs in the sector. The sector is overwhelmingly female although there is a higher proportion of men at managerial levels. Disabled people make up 1% (compared to 10% of the population as a whole) and BME workers are 8%. It was also difficult to obtain workforce data. The majority of the workforce are part-time and there are lower levels of pay comparable to similar sectors.

A study of the supply found:
• The large number of qualifications available needs to be reduced as the current
provision is confusing for employers and potential new entrants to the sector.
• There is a wide range of non-accredited training undertaken in the sector.
• Delivery of learning/training provision is not always sufficiently flexible to meet
employer needs in terms of time, location, relevance etc.
• Funding for training and development needs to be simplified and clarified in order
to maximise the impact and effectiveness of investment.
• In order to ensure the sector develops the skills it needs there is a need to
improve the data on current skills / qualifications held.