Who we are?
Sector Skills Council for Social Care
As the Sector Skills Council for adult social care and children and young people’s services in UK, our partners are employer-led organisations that have responsibility for skills and workforce development in the sector – including managers,  all care workers, administrative staff, support staff and other ancillary workers.
Strong Partnership
SfCD is a strong partnership, working together across the UK to support the reduction of skills gaps and shortages, increasing opportunities to boost the skills and capability of everyone working in social care. The collective UK wide voice of the partnership of these four organisations is a valuable asset to the wider social care sector.
National Benchmark standards
Partners work together with employers, policy makers, learning providers and all sizes of employer – from large firms to micro-businesses and individual employers, to support the development of a skilled workforce through National Occupational Standards, apprenticeships and signposting a whole range of learning opportunities
Sharing Good Practice
Our Board members
Moira
Dame Moira Gibb
JP, Chair of SfCD and Chair of its partner organisation, Skills for Care
Mick photo small 2
Mick Giannasi
Chair of the Social Care Wales
SONY DSC
Sandra Campbell
Convener of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
Paul-good
Paul Martin
Chair of Northern Ireland Social Services Council
Andy
Andy Tilden
Interim Chief Executive Officer, Skills for Care
Sue
Sue Evans
CEO, Social Care Wales
Lorraine
Lorraine Gray
CEO Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
Patricia_Headshot_Smile
Patricia Higgins
Interim CEO, Northern Ireland Social Care Council
Neil
Neil Leitch
Chief Executive, Early Years Alliance
What we do

The estimated UK social care workforce now totals 1.8 million job roles which represents 6% of total employment so it is important that we recognise the huge contribution these workers make and that as partners we work together to support their development

Standards

Inspectors
Health and Social Care
Children's Care Learning and Development
Social Work

National Occupational Standards (NOS) are developed collaboratively by our partner organisations together with social care employers. These are standards of practice that people must achieve when working in certain social service roles and include knowledge and understanding linked to that role.

Leadership and Management for Care Services
Commissioning, Procurement and Contracting for Care Services
Sensory Services
Principles for Learning and Assessment

SfCD partners adhere to shared principles for learning and qualifications in the care sector across the UK.  The principles demonstrate how working as a partnership enhances the work of SfCD partners.

Strategic Approach to Sector Qualifications and Learning

For agreed principles and approaches to assessment within qualifications

SfCD Assessment Principles
Careers in Care

Care is one of the fastest growing areas of employment in the UK, with more and more people needing our services. Never before have there been so many great career opportunities. If you want to discover whether a job in social care is for you visit our A Question of Care: A career for you site. This is an interactive video challenge to help you to see what a career in care is really like

Regulation and Transferability of qualifications across the four national partners
If you want to work in a different country to the one where you gained your qualification we strongly recommend you contact the partner organisation in the country where you want to work to confirm requirements. Links to the national partners are below.
Research

The economic value of the social care sector Commissioned by Skills for Care & Development and produced by ICF Consulting Limited, this report shows that the adult social care sector in the UK contributes £46.2 billion to the economy so it is a sector that matters enormously to the UK economy.

Download full infographic

It represents 6% of total employment and the average earnings are £17,300. The average full time equivalent worker generated £19,700 of value towards the economy.

The report shares the economic impact of a growing sector offering services in 45,000 sites across the UK in 1.8 million job roles.

Separate reports for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have also been published