Training programmes for care professionals. Quality of employment and professionalisation in the sector

The Institute for the Elderly and Social Services (IMSERSO) and the Complutense University of Madrid Foundation are organising this summer course, which aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the sector, both nationally and internationally, which will help address the shortage of professionals, strengthen the professionalisation of the sector and promote access to employment through flexible initial training, thereby steering public policies towards a more sustainable, innovative and person-centred model.

The two-day event will address the current situation of carers, as well as the main barriers to employment, particularly in relation to the accreditation of professional qualifications and the need for more structured, accessible and tailored training pathways suited to different career paths. It will also analyse the regulatory changes currently underway, in particular those reflected in the new Professional Certificate in the field of care and personal assistance, which will shortly be established by royal decree, aimed at facilitating access to employment and strengthening qualifications in the sector, whilst guaranteeing the quality of services.

This meeting also provides an opportunity to highlight the progress made by the Technical Committee on Quality of the System for Autonomy and Care for Dependent Persons (SAAD) within the framework of the Agreement on common criteria for accreditation and quality in SAAD centres and services, with a particular focus on quality in employment. It will also showcase innovation projects that are driving new models of care, work organisation and improvements in the quality of care, both nationally and internationally.

Our colleague Verónica Lozada, a researcher at Matia Institute, will be attending from our office and is one of the speakers at a panel discussion entitled: “Training and access to employment in the care sector: challenges and experiences.”