News
Second WorldSkills UK Caring Competition showcases excellent skills
Last week St Helens College played host to the second heat of the WorldSkills UK Caring Competitions organised by the National Skills Academy for Social Care. The second of three regional heats was tough one-day event, with competitors hoping for a place in the London final this June.
Certificate winners and organiser Emily Bari
Tina Taylor receiving first prize
Tina Taylor, a care worker for 18 years and student at Cheadle and Marple Sixth form College, won first prize in the competition, demonstrating the delivery of excellent care. Second prize was awarded to her college-mate Diane Brown, and young care worker Michael Yates from Preston came third.
Third-prize winner, Bradley Brandon, participates in the Activities for Daily Living assessment
Participants competed in a gruelling one-day event, showcasing their caring skills in Activities for Daily Living, helping a service user with regular tasks, and responding to an Emergency Situation. These scenarios replicated situations with which all care workers should be familiar from their daily work, providing an opportunity to demonstrate the delivery of excellent care.
First-prize winner Tina Taylor is from Stockport, and says she has “learnt to be a carer not just a care giver” by undertaking her role with “confidence, respect, compassion and empathy for the clients”.
Second prize winner Diane Brown participates in Activities for Daily Living
Diane Brown receiving second prize
Michael Yates receiving third prize certificate
Michael Yates taking part in Activites for Daily Living
Tina Taylor and Diane Brown receiving 1st and 2nd certificates
Editors’ Notes
- For further information about the WorldSkills UK Caring Competitions in 2010 visit www.worldskillsuk.org
- St Helens College hosted the Caring Competition on Wednesday 7th April
- The last heat of the competition follows in Telford on 11th and 12th May, prior to the culmination of the WorldSkills UK Caring Competition with the final in London on June 23rd. At the final the best competitors from the heats will compete to be awarded medals overall.
- Anyone who wins a medal in the final and who will be under 23 in 2011 may be eligible to represent the UK in the international World Skills Caring Competition at WorldSkills London in Autumn 2011.
- The competition has been open to applications from anyone working in, or training for, the social care sector over the age of 16, with the Skills Academy receiving applications from interested individuals from all over the country.
- The National Skills Academy for Social Care is the first welfare-related Skills Academy in the network of Skills Academies that are developed by employers as world-class centres of excellence delivering the skills required by each sector of the economy.
- It will direct learning support and training practice to the 1.5 million adult social care workers and 35,000 employers, particularly targeting small and medium-sized employers with limited training and development budgets.
- 1.5 million people currently work in adult social care, including home care workers, care home staff and social workers. Demographic changes, including an ageing population, will require a significant increase in the social care workforce, which is predicted to rise to 2.5 million by 2025.
- The Skills Academy is led by a Board made up of a coalition of employer representatives from across the statutory, private and not-for-profit sectors in the adult social care sector.
- Adult social care supports those with a physical or learning disability, people with mental health problems, and older people.
- For further information please email Ruthi.Taylor@nsasocialcare.co.uk