Workforce development needed for better provision of arts in social care

Carers need to be persuaded to have an open mind and facilitate access to arts-led activities, according to a review addressing the question ‘What do we know about the role of arts in the delivery of social care?’. Whilst there is increasing recognition that the arts can help promote quality of life and independence, greater awareness and training may be needed for social care professionals to better use the arts as part of care. There is also a need for greater dialogue between the creative and social care sectors. Suggesting a possible area for collaboration and development, Catherine Large, Joint CEO of Creative and Cultural Skills, said: “The care sector needs to recruit an estimated 90,000 qualified workers per year to replace those leaving the sector... At the same time, there are thousands of young people graduating from creative arts courses every year who struggle to find employment.” The report, commissioned by Skills for Care in partnership with Creative & Cultural Skills  and Skills for Care and Development, found that the arts, when delivered effectively, have the power to facilitate social interaction as well as enabling those who receive social care to pursue creative interests. The evidence demonstrates the physical and psychological benefits of using the arts in social care, but the review concludes that more research would be needed to paint an accurate picture of how the arts are used to deliver social care, and the level of investment in training and professional development and models of workforce development that have proven to use the arts effectively.