GRADUATE MANAGEMENT TRAINING SCHEME COHORT 6 INFORMATION PACK

GRADUATE MANAGEMENT TRAINING SCHEME
COHORT 6 INFORMATION PACK

“I cannot recommend the scheme enough, it really does fast track you for a career in
social care and the amount I have learnt over the past six months having never
worked in the sector has been invaluable. It’s been the best career choice I could
have made to get into the sector.”
(Cohort 5 Trainee)

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About Skills for Care, home of the National Skills Academy for Social Care:

“I would 100% recommend the scheme, I cannot speak highly enough of the opportunities it has
provided me and the resources and support offered by Skills for Care.” (Cohort 5 Trainee)

Skills for Care is the employer-led workforce development body for adult social care in England, a
growing sector that currently has around 17,000 employers and a workforce of around 1.6 million
workers contributing an estimated £43 billion to the English economy. We work with employers across
England to make sure their people have the right skills and values to deliver high quality care.

Home of the National Skills Academy for Social Care, we offer workforce learning and development
support and practical resources from entry level right through to those in leadership and management
roles.

By working with employers and sharing best practice, we help raise quality and standards across the
whole sector and ensure dignity and respect are at the heart of service delivery.

www.skillsforcare.org.uk

Fostering leadership in adult social care:

“The care sector is rapidly changing and expectations continually being raised at every level of the
care & services being provided. The role of the graduate will soon become an essential element
for any care home that wants to be successful.” (Cohort 4 Placement Supervisor)

This is a challenging and

exciting time for adult social

care in England. The ambition

is for individuals to be able to

live their own lives as they

wish, confident that services

are of high quality, are safe

and promote their own

individual needs for

independence, well-being and

dignity.

Adult social care is expanding
rapidly. The 1.6 million strong
workforce is expected to grow
to an estimated 2.5 million by 2025 to help meet the needs of the sector alongside the inevitable
demands of an ageing and vulnerable population.

In 2009 the National Skills Academy for Social Care introduced the Graduate Management Training
Scheme to raise the profile of social care as a ‘career of choice’ and to attract leaders of the future
into the sector’s workforce. Graduates are recruited for values and potential, regardless of academic

discipline.

The scheme champions innovation and excellence in care services, providing a challenging fast-track
programme built on the skills and behaviours necessary to become a successful leader in the field.
100 Graduate Management Trainees have now completed the programme over 5 cohorts,
representing a strong network of leaders across the social care and health sectors.

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The National Graduate Management Training Scheme:

“I have so enjoyed getting to know the sector and channelling my strengths into it. The opportunity
has been unique - we have support and futurity. We are not just numbers, but are being given so
many opportunities to gain experience, confidence and knowledge. There is a real sense of being
crafted and grown into significant contributors to the sector.” (Cohort 5 Trainee)

The Graduate Management Training Scheme is the only programme of its kind devoted entirely to
adult social care. As a fast-track programme, the expectation is for trainees to demonstrate a
continuously improving performance and skills base through their placement with one of a range of
innovative social care organisations.

Practical work-based learning is complemented by a tailored training programme, delivered over
approximately 24 days in London. All trainees will study towards a leadership and management
qualification, specific to the social care sector, whilst working to an ambitious personal development
plan.

Host organisations represent the diversity of care provision, and in the past have included employers
from the private, voluntary and statutory sectors. Some are independent care providers whilst others
are national bodies with a strategic remit.

Training takes place in the form of development days, action learning sets and tutorials, with
assignments and follow up work to be completed outside placement hours. In addition, all trainees will
partake in a ‘real time’ research project, reporting to an external Project Sponsor and making
recommendations for the wider sector.

Education and development:

"MHA have grasped the opportunity to become involved. We have been bowled over by the
energy of the graduates and their ability to offer a fresh perspective and try different approaches. It
is their “unjaundiced eye” which sets this scheme apart from more traditional management training
routes. Fast tracking leadership means we are able to give them a passion for delivering care and
managing an excellent care service.” (Cohort 3 & 4 Placement Supervisor)

The scheme runs for 12 months, incorporating:
 Two day induction event
 12 month full time work placement mapped to the LQF
 A fully funded education and development programme
 £18,000 bursary (tax free)
 Return on investment evaluation process
 Mentoring by senior managers (where requested)
 Access to the alumni community and ongoing support

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Eligibility for the National Graduate Management Training Scheme:

“I would encourage young leaders to consider the social care sector as a viable and exciting
career path, with plenty of prospects in a wide range of roles. We are facing the prospect of an
ever aging population that needs young leaders to provide the energy and creativity to steer it in
the right direction from now and into the future.” (Cohort 4 Trainee)

We would ask that you check your eligibility carefully before applying for the
programme. During the application process, we will ask you to declare that you
are eligible to take part.

Please be aware that we are expecting a very high volume of applications.
During the last two rounds of recruitments over 50 applications were received for
every placement available.

NOTE: Minimum requirement for the programme is a degree (BA, BSc or higher) in any
subject, at 2:2 classification or above

Skills for Care is not registered with the
UK Border Agency to sponsor migrants
under the Points Based System. Only
candidates with a pre-existing right to
work in the UK will be considered in the
selection process.

We will require all selected candidates
to provide original evidence of the right
to work in the UK before confirming an
offer of employment. This may be in the
form of a valid passport (British Citizens
will need to bring their British
passports), a valid visa or leave to
remain stamp (if applicable), a valid
Biometric Residence Card (if applicable) or other documentation confirming the right to work in the
UK.

All successful candidates are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Please note that a place on this programme will not be confirmed until all checks have been
completed and the results discussed with you.

In addition to evidencing a 2:2 classification or above at degree level, all candidates must also:

 have GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English at Grade C or above
 be prepared to work anywhere in the UK
 be prepared to work occasional weekends and late nights
 demonstrate a passion and commitment to social care in its various forms
 be prepared to undertake a personally challenging programme of study and work experience

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The selection process:

“Yes (I would recommend the programme) – for the fast-track development, for the route into
networking and learning opportunities both in the host organisation and with scheme training, and
for the flexibility and space you are given to explore your ideas and project thoughts, for the time
and resources invested in you and your development.” (Cohort 5 Trainee)

The selection process for trainees will be based on each applicant’s:
 Social care values
 Motivation to join the programme
 Leadership potential (mapped to the Leadership Qualities Framework), including commitment
to innovation and improving services
 Aptitude demonstrated throughout the recruitment process

The process will include:
 A declaration by each applicant of their eligibility for the scheme
 A written application form
 A series of online tests
 An assessment day (for those invited to attend) involving individual and group exercises

Candidates will be assessed against 6 key
leadership dimensions:

1. Working within teams
2. Developing awareness of self
3. Building & maintaining relationships
4. Continuously improving performance
5. Shaping the environment
6. Communication with individuals & groups

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What to do and what happens next:

“Perhaps the most important legacy is the support networks that the scheme cultivates. The skills
academy members, the tutors, my host organisation and my peers on the scheme were invaluable
throughout the year, offering advice, support and encouragement. This support has continued after
the scheme, which has been hugely beneficial for myself and other alumni.” (Cohort 3 Trainee)

Cohort 6 of the Graduate Management Training Scheme is due to launch on 11 January 2016
The online application process will open in August 2015 and all recruitment news will be
posted on our website and Facebook page
The above guidance has been put in place to ensure a fair recruitment process, and to support
prospective trainees to assess their eligibility and suitability for the programme.
Please make sure you have read through this document carefully, in order for you to feel confident in
the suitability of your application. Having submitted your application, you will be asked to complete a
series of online tests. These will collectively form the basis of the first round of the recruitment
process.
If you are selected to go through to the next stage, you will be invited to attend an assessment centre
and will be provided with further information about what to expect on the day.
Please note that you must attend one of the scheduled assessment centres in order to be considered
for the scheme. At the assessment centre, you will undertake a range of exercises (including an
interview) and also have the opportunity to meet scheme alumni.
We will inform every applicant of the outcome of their application by emailing the address they provide
on their application form. We are expecting a lot of interest in the scheme, so please be patient with
us while we assess applications.
If you, or anyone else, canvases in any way for your inclusion in the programme, your application will
be withdrawn.
Many thanks for your interest in the Graduate Management Training Scheme and best of luck with
your application!

‘Like’ our Facebook page to see all the latest news about the
programme!
Please direct any further Graduate Scheme queries to
[email protected]

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