Effective learning and development opportunities give social care staff the skills and confidence they need to feel supported and motivated in their roles. It also offers the potential for career progression.
Job satisfaction and well-being increase when people can grow and see a future in the sector. This leads to stronger engagement and better retention.
The Institute for Public Policy Research found that improving access to personal training and development opportunities can help staff feel more valued and more likely to remain in the role (Thomas et al., 2023). Different types of jobseekers have different motivations and needs, which employers can meet through targeted development opportunities. For example, a persona representing someone seeking career progression highlights the importance of offering development routes to retain ambitious workers. More on this can be found in our personas toolkit.
Learning and development opportunities are just as important for managers. Research by The King’s Fund shows that training in compassionate leadership and psychological safety can help to create a positive work culture, which improves well-being and retention (Massie, 2017; Bailey and West, 2022).
Here are resources to help support learning and development.
Are there other areas of support or resources that you feel would help you in improving retention for the workforce? Let us know by e-mailing workforcestrategy@socialcare.wales.
