Get involved in the Workforce of the Future Challenge

Do you have an idea that could shape the future social service workforce? The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and IRISS are working together to develop new solutions to the challenges facing the sector’s workforce. And your idea could become a reality if you get involved in the Workforce of the Future Challenge.

What is the Workforce of the Future Challenge about?

Planning a workforce for the future is essential. Employers are often too caught up in immediate challenges to focus on the longer term, but if we are to make sure that the right learning and development opportunities are available and the right types of people are coming into the workforce, we must start planning now.

In June, a 'problem Pow-wow' workshop was held, which involved about 60 people from social services, other professions and people with an interest in this sector. The output of this collaborative process was 10 agreed routes for innovation, which were entitled, 'Interesting Questions'. These included the kinds of things people often discuss, but seldom get answered such as… “What if we could provide this…?”, “Wouldn’t it be good if we could do…?” or “How can we fix…?”.

Four of these questions were chosen to become the big challenges that would to go into the next stage of our ideas and innovation process.

The challenges

    1. How can we demonstrate the difference that social services make?

    2. What can social service workers do to better involve communities to prevent problems, and find solutions?

    3. How do we equip social service workers to provide truly person-centred services?

    4. What can be done to work collaboratively with other professions without losing the unique contribution that social services bring?

Submission of ideas, commenting, voting...

An online, interactive ideas platform (link below) has been developed for this next stage, where anyone can discuss the challenges, submit ideas to help solve them and vote for favourite ideas. To get involved,all you need to do is sign-up on the website: https://100open.ideascale.com/

Of those submitted, the ideas that get the most feedback and positive comment, as well as meet the judging criteria in relation to being productive, practical and/or pioneering, will be selected for development.

One hundred people who’ve taken part in the online ideas platform will then be invited to a free, two-day innovation camp on 17-18 September in Edinburgh. There will also be other ways for people to be part of the event in September.

From ideas to reality

In November/December, prototypes and ideas will be pitched to decision makers in organisations where they will be asked to adopt an idea and try it out. The SSSC and IRISS will be keeping you up-to-date with the progress over the next few months.

Meanwhile, do visit the Workforce of the Future website to submit ideas.

If you have any questions or queries about this project, please contact Lucy Robinson (IRISS) or Lorraine Gray (SSSC).