Workforce Development
Overview
EASPD actively promotes high standards of skill and competences amongst EASPD members and within the social care workforce of Europe, as a means of delivering good quality services. To do so, services must be person-centred and in line with core values such as rights, social inclusion and independence. Services must reject the medical model of disability and actively embrace the social model of disability.
A key pre-condition to the development of care and support services based on such principles, is the creation of a competent, well trained workforce. One that is valued by the wider society, which provides career progression possibilities, and is based on a reasonable living wage.
Finally, the disability services sector has tremendous potential in terms of job creation and will be a driving force for employment. Nevertheless, the attractiveness of the sector, and the consequent staff shortages, remain major concerns and constitute one of the key points of focus of EASPD.
