Only 29% of care workers have dementia training – Skills for Care report
Skills for Care has published ‘The state of the adult social care sector and workforce in England 2024’.
In the report, under ‘Categories of training recorded in ASC-WDS, 2023/24’ it is detailed that only 29% of the social care workforce have received dementia training (See page 114 here: https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Adult-Social-Care-Workforce-Data/Workforce-intelligence/documents/State-of-the-adult-social-care-sector/The-state-of-the-adult-social-care-sector-and-workforce-in-England-2024.pdf).
In the 2023 version of this report, the figure was 45% (See page 141 here: https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Adult-Social-Care-Workforce-Data/Workforce-intelligence/documents/State-of-the-adult-social-care-sector/The-State-of-the-Adult-Social-Care-Sector-and-Workforce-2023.pdf)
Skills for Care explain the 2024 figure as follows:
“We previously only included staff with training recorded and now we include staff at workplaces with training included. The percentages reported are lower than previously seen due to this method change and not a change in the training levels of the workforce.”
The Alzheimer’s Society say:
“Around 70% of people living in residential care in England have some form of dementia. Yet, new data tells us that only 29% of adult social care staff in England receive any dementia training. Leaving those living with dementia without the support they need – and that isn’t good enough.”