Oonagh Smyth is CEO of Skills for Care – the workforce development charity for the 1.5 million people who work in adult social care in England and the strategic delivery partner for the Department of Health and Social Care.
Prior to starting in Skills for Care in 2020, Oonagh was the Executive Director of Strategy and Influence in Mencap.
She is a former Co-Chair of the Care and Support Alliance, which is a cross-sector alliance of 80 social care organisations influencing at the highest government levels.
People working in adult social care know the job better than anyone. That is why we want to hear from you.
What is the Care Workforce Pathway? When we launched the Care Workforce Pathway (the Pathway) in 2024, we set out an ambitious vision: to create the first universal career structure for adult social care, giving clearer opportunities to develop, progress, and build rewarding …
As people working in care, we dedicate our time to supporting others. But we must also ensure that fellow care workers are valued in return. That means having the right working conditions, being fairly rewarded, sharing best practice, and building …
Right care, right place, right time As the conversations about delegated healthcare continue to evolve, the messaging remains clear. Delegation of healthcare activities is happening across adult social care and has been for many years. These voluntary guiding principles support …
As the Department of Health and Social Care announces its adult social care workforce reform package, Oonagh Smyth, CEO of Skills for Care, gives her insight into what this means for recruiting, retaining and empowering the care workforce.
"Talk to any employer, or person who draws on care and support, and they will tell you that the people who work in social care are undoubtedly the sector’s biggest asset". As a new call for evidence launches, Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care and Oonagh Smyth, Chief Executive of Skills for Care, …
The further embedding of delegated healthcare interventions in the care workforce represents the ongoing initiative to marry social care experience with clinical excellence to deliver enhanced, high quality and consistent care. Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, and Oonagh Smyth, CEO Skills for Care give an update.
Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, Deborah Sturdy, and Skills for Care CEO, Oonagh Smyth, look at the progress being made to create a national voluntary framework to support the safe and effective delegation of healthcare interventions to the social care workforce.