HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Health and Social Care

ABSTRACTiii

CHAPTER 11

Introduction1

Aims and objective1

Hypothesis2

Rationale2

CHAPTER 23

Literature review3

Context4

The national agenda for upskilling the workforce4

The national agenda for engaging with employers5

Specific policy drivers relating to the up skilling of the workforce in the Health and Social care sector6

Themes emerging from literature review6

Motivation7

CHAPTER 39

Research design9

Sample size9

Data collection10

Interview questionnaire design11

Limitations12

CHAPTER 413

Results13

Benefits to the setting13

Disadvantages to the setting14

Practical issues that need to be considered for employees in higher education15

Ideal skill mix for employers16

Skill mix and range of qualifications in the setting17

Limitations on staff achieving qualifications in higher education17

Discussion18

CHAPTER 521

Conclusions21

Recommendations22

REFERENCES24

ABSTRACT

This study has been undertaken in response to a perceived need to clarify the issues relating to the relatively small numbers of employees accessing higher education in Health and Social Care. The focus of the work is the consideration of the employer role. The information work has been informed by a literature review, which has also served to define the focus for the information gathering with employers. The issues emerging from the review suggest that this is an extensive and largely unexplored area. The literature also indicates that there some lack of converging aims between sector providers and a significant difference in the approach and opportunities between health and social care. It is beyond the scope of this review and study to explore these issues, and the intention has been to retain focus on the employer perspective.

CHAPTER 1

Introduction

There is recognition throughout this document that constraints have limited the rigour and scope of the evidence gathering. The definition of the work in terms of 'research' lies in the aim of the study to discover new information about the barriers to higher education in health and social care, but also in highlighting new relationships (Cormack, 2000). The declarative (Cormack, 2000, p 78) research purpose was to investigate the relationship between the position of employers and the entry into higher education of workers in health and social care settings.

Aims and objective

The main aim of the study was to obtain evidence from local employers about the perceptions of higher education in health and social care. Due to constraints it was not appropriate to conduct lengthy semi-structured interviews. There was not the capacity to transcribe and analyse data fully. Consequently data had to be gathered in a manageable form and quantity. The research objectives are to develop knowledge about:

The perceptions of employers of the benefits of having employees in higher education;

The perceptions of employers of any disadvantages of having employees in higher education;

What practical considerations are there for employers having staff in higher education;

The perceptions of employers about the advantages to the staff team from having an employee in higher education;

The perception of employers about disadvantages to the staff team from having an employee in higher education;

What education providers do to support employees access to higher education;

Which skills and qualities were valued most highly as a result of employees accessing qualifications beyond Level 3

Background information about the size of setting;

Background information about the skill mix in the setting;

Employers' ideal skill mix in the setting;

Any perceived constraints ...