Case study: How South Staffordshire College is shaping local talent

South Staffordshire College began delivering our social care qualifications as they knew that employers see CACHE qualifications as ‘‘the gold standard.” Find out how they’re ensuring learners progress onto a variety of caring careers and higher education courses. 

South Staffordshire College aims to serve the needs of communities and businesses across South Staffordshire and beyond. They have a vision to support the future prosperity and economic vibrancy of this region through supporting their stakeholders and local employers to achieve their aims, through the high-quality training and support they provide. 

Knowing employers want to recruit the very best, and that employers see CACHE qualifications as ‘‘the gold standard,’’ the college began delivering our social care qualifications. These are helping learners progress onto a variety of caring careers and higher education courses.  

Employer recognition  

After delivering our early years qualifications for several years, the college decided to deliver our social care qualifications too. This includes the: 

• Level 2 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care 
• Level 3 Technical Certificate in Health and Social Care 
• Level 3 Technical Diploma in Health and Social Care 
• Level 2 Counselling Skills 
• Level 3 Counselling  

‘‘Employers are keen to recruit the very best learners. They know and understand CACHE qualifications,’’ explains Curriculum Manager Jo George.  

‘‘We need to get our learners employed, or onto the destinations of their choices. So, if it’s university they want to go to, then we know CACHE qualifications can offer them the UCAS points to get them there. And employers will recognise learners as having the right skills, knowledge and behaviours (KSBs) for their vacancies.’’ 

Learners want to go into a variety of caring careers. ‘‘Some want to go into care homes or work with the elderly or dementia patients. Others want to work in nursing, paramedic science and public health. Some look into working in administrative roles in healthcare environments too. We find that a lot of our learners go into their work placements and secure jobs through these.’’ 

Jo says: ‘‘You want learners to earn those qualifications because employers are expecting the best, and that's what we want. We want to know that our learners are going onto employment and being the very best that they can be.”