Useful Links

Links for further reading about home care

If you are considering a career in the care sector, there are a few organisations that you will need to be familiar with, and some that can provide you with news and information in the sector.

United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) - www.ukhca.co.uk

UKHCA is the national professional association of home care providers for the independent, voluntary, not-for-profit and statutory sectors. UKHCA helps organisations providing social care to people in their own homes, they promote high standards of care whilst providing representation with policy makers and regulators.

Community Care - www.communitycare.co.uk

Community Care is for everyone who works in social care, they provide news of recent developments in the care sector. They also provide a regular newsletter, organise conferences, and provide special reports relevant to those working in the care sector.

Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) - www.scie.org.uk

SCIE provide a wealth of learning resources on their site. Their mission is to improve the lives of people who use care services by sharing knowledge about what works. They are an independent charity that works with adults, families and children's social care and social work services across the United Kingdom.

The SCIE have also developed Social Care TV where you can watch videos to learn about subjects such as safeguarding adults, Working with mental health, dementia, challenging behaviors, and many more subjects.

Dignity in Care - www.dignityincare.org.uk

Hosted by SCIE, the Dignity in Care site enables you to learn about dignity in care and even become a champion of the cause. Click here to see news relating to Carewatch on their site.

Ceretas - www.ceretas.org.uk

Formerly known as the British Association of Domiciliary Care or BADCO, Ceretas is the Professional Association dedicated to individuals working in Home Care.

Ceretas promotes professional care at home and aims to follow the example set by the British Association of Domiciliary Care by continuing to support Managers and Home Care Workers in the provision of professional care for those people who wish to be cared for in the comfort of their own home.

Care Inspectorate (Formerly Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS)) - www.scswis.com

The Care Inspectorate is the independent scrutiny and improvement body for care and children’s services and have a significant part to play in improving services for adults and children across Scotland.

Along with regulating and inspecting care services, they also carry out social work and child protection inspections, making sure sure that people receive the highest quality of care and that their rights are promoted and protected.

Scottish Care - www.scottishcare.org

Scottish Care is a not for profit organisation and is the voice of the independent care sector in Scotland, representing the large majority of care homes, including some charity and voluntary. Convening regular meetings with all national statutory authorities and bodies including, the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Executive, cosla, ADSW, they aim to represent all independent care providers in Scotland, including UK-wide national groups or organisations, who have operating units or companies in Scotland.

Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) - www.wales.gov.uk

The inspectorate for Wales regulate and inspect care providers in Wales, making professional assessments and judgements about social care, early years and social services and so encourage improvement by the service providers.

Quality Care Commission (CQC) - www.cqc.org.uk

The CQC are the independent regulator of health and social care in England. They regulate care provided by the NHS, local authorities, private care providers, and voluntary organisations. They ensure that better care is provided for everyone, wherever the care setting is - in hospitals, care homes or within people's own homes.

General Social Care Council (GSCC) - www.gscc.org.uk

The General Social Care Council is the regulator of the social work profession and social work education in England, it is an arms-length government body funded partly by the Department of Health, and partly by registration fees. Their role is to protect the public by requiring high standards of education, conduct and practice of all social workers. The GSCC keep a compulsory register of all social workers, they also issue and enforce codes of practice for the profession.