Enhancing social care worker employability through innovative cross-sector professional learning provision

Sylvia Warnecke and Bärbel Brash, The Open University in Scotland, UK and Rosi Mele, Lingo Flamingo, UK 

Email: sylvia.warnecke@open.ac.uk; baerbel.brash@open.ac.uk

Click to download Enhancing social care worker employability through innovative cross-sector professional learning provision (.pptx)       

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Abstract

This workshop explores how participation in the online course Learning Languages with Senior Learners supported the development of transferable employability skills alongside enhanced job satisfaction in social care staff. Produced and delivered by the Open University in Scotland in partnership with the Glasgow-based Social Enterprise Lingo Flamingo during the Covid-19 pandemic, the course has provided students with the skills and competence to deliver activities in care settings, either face-to-face or online, to increase the wellbeing of residents and help them overcome depression, isolation and marginalisation. Students’ employers commended this programme for inspiring staff through its collaborative and reflective practitioner approach, while upskilling them to provide this unique learning in their care context long-term.

Using evaluation data from the course pilots, workshop participants investigate the positive impact of making language learning activities accessible to senior learners, for example how the course led to a change of mindset with staff developing novel ways of engaging with residents, and residents being empowered to develop their participatory literacy and social cohesion. They will consider how the benefits of this approach to upskilling may be applied to their own specific context and settings.

The workshop, delivered jointly by OU and Lingo Flamingo staff, will showcase how social care workers were enabled to enhance their career progression, take on leadership roles and revolutionise aspects of their care.