Apply to be on the National Skills Academy for Social Care Coach Register
Applications
The National Skills Academy for Social Care is actively developing advice and support for those working within social care on coaching and mentoring. Potential coachees will be able to learn more about coaching and mentoring, and select a coach from the forthcoming National Skills Academy for Social Care register of experienced and qualified coaches. This web site already provides guidance on choosing a coach. Those working within social care will be able to contact coaches if they wish to. The National Skills Academy for Social Care is quality assuring the list of coaches, since our aim is to improve access to good quality coaches for those working within social care. The site is initially prioritising coaching, and will shortly be developing further information and links on mentoring.
The Academy site will:
- Describe coaching and mentoring and explain the differences between them.
- Set out the benefits of coaching and mentoring.
- Explain what coaches can offer and how they work.
- Provide support on choosing a coach to work with.
- Provide information on coaches through a quality assured database.
- Provide useful coaching and mentoring links.
- Provide information on mentor training and good practice in mentoring.
- Give examples of good practice and success stories.
The National Skills Academy for Social Care will shortly be inviting applications from coaches that wish to be included in the register.
The information below is designed to allow coaches to find out more about the initiative and the National Skills Academy for Social Care.
Information for Coaching Applicants
The National Skills Academy for Social Care is an employer-led centre of excellence supporting training, development and career progression in adult social care in England. The Skills Academy will collaborate with organisations across Europe and internationally.
It will target learning support and training practice to 1.5 million adult social care workers and 35,000 employers, with a particular emphasis on small and medium sized organisations.
Background
Coaching has increasingly come to be valued and appreciated across all sectors over the last few years. There has been a large growth in coaches, coaching and organisational commitment to using it for support and development.
Many people working within social care want support through coaching and mentoring. The demand for coaching has increased as the challenges and complexities of social care managers’ roles have changed and developed over the last few years. The Academy aspires to further stimulate and extend this demand.
We are responding to that need by developing a coaching database, so that you can choose a coach yourself- with guidance and support - and from an accredited, quality assured list. The National Skills Academy for Social Care also regards coaching as part of its core purpose and business.
We are starting by focusing on coaching and will be developing a mentoring framework in 2010.
Coaching
We are defining coaching in professional terms as a process through which the coach facilitates their client to achieve their goals and improve their performance through careful listening, questioning, analysis, summary and challenge. In this the client is resourceful, and the coach and client work as partners. The coach uses formal coaching techniques, and a distinction is drawn between coaching and mentoring.
Quality Assurance
There are a number of ways that we will quality assure our database and selection process. We will have clearly defined entry criteria – such as a minimum number of hours of coaching practice, level of qualifications obtained and supervisory arrangements.
Other quality assurance measures will be stated once the application process begins.
More Information and Queries
We will be inviting applications to join the coach register later in the year. If you would like to express an interest in receiving information once the application process starts, please contact us at