Community care workers to gain new skills under tripartite partnership

Workers in the community care sector, or those looking to join it, can now embark on structured training to enhance their skills.

The Tripartite Community Care Council (T3C) has updated the Community Care Skills Standards Framework in 2024 to include active ageing care skills standards, supporting new care models under the national Healthier SG and Age Well SG initiatives.

Additionally, T3C has backed the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) in its partnership with Institutes of Higher Learning to develop pre-employment and continuous learning training programmes for workers in the sector.

Transport Minister and T3C advisor Chee Hong Tat highlighted these initiatives on 2 December 2024 at the opening of the Vanguard Healthcare Active Ageing Centre (AAC) @ 3G Wellness Centre.

The Council comprises the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union (HSEU), the Ministry of Health, the AIC, and industry stakeholders.

Proposed by HSEU President K Thanaletchimi, the Council was formed in June 2023 to advise on upskilling and training accreditation for the sector’s workforce.

“The Tripartite Community Care Council, or T3C, has played a key advisory role behind today’s opening of the Active Ageing Centre, having brought together the government agencies and key stakeholders to grow and also elevate the importance of our community care sector through training and upskilling of our workers, so we can better serve our community and our seniors.

“In the short two years since its formation, T3C has been instrumental in providing advisory and guidance towards the development of skills and training in the community care sector,” Mr Chee said.

HSEU helps to upgrade workers’ skills for the new active ageing centre

The council celebrates a milestone with the opening of the AAC, a partnership between Vanguard Healthcare and Senja-Cashew Community Club, catering to over 1,600 seniors in the area.

The AAC’s unique feature is its dedicated space within the community club, allowing for a wider range of activities on a larger scale. Additionally, the AAC can utilise its prime location between a neighborhood park and Pang Sua Pond to organise programmes that embrace the natural surroundings.

After establishing a Company Training Committee with NTUC, Vanguard Healthcare embarked on an Operation and Technology Roadmap (OTR) in February this year to enhance its technology and innovation capabilities in operating active ageing centres.

As a result, Vanguard Healthcare, which manages various senior care facilities, including another active ageing centre, will pilot a new software at the AAC that can assess users’ vital signs using laptops or phone cameras.

These insights will enable the company’s workers to make more informed decisions and provide timely, engaging support. After the pilot, the company plans to apply for the NTUC CTC Grant to roll out the software to its other centres.

The NTUC CTC is a partnership between unions, employers, and workers aimed at improving productivity and enhancing workers’ skills. The CTC will also assist employers in securing up to 70 per cent funding for their productivity project costs through the NTUC CTC Grant.

In return, employers are expected to raise the salaries of workers involved in these projects and develop career progression plans to enhance their prospects.

Since its inception in February 2019, NTUC has established over 2,700 CTCs. Nearly 6,000 workers from around 260 companies will benefit from wage increases and enhanced career development opportunities through these grants.

HSEU upskills workers in the community care sector

Ms Thanaletchimi highlighted that the union is expanding its support beyond public healthcare workers to include the community care and social services workforce.

“As these sectors evolve and explore transformation efforts to raise productivity, HSEU will support community care organisations and social service agencies with resources through the CTC Grant and the NTUC Education and Training Fund,” she explained.

The NTUC Education and Training Fund subsidises individual skills upgrading through the Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP), allowing NTUC Union Members to receive up to $500 annually in subsidies for selected courses.

The union has also extended the Community Care Induction Programme (CCIP) to assist retired civil servants without a healthcare background in transitioning into the community care sector.

“The Public Service Division has long been proactive in supporting the career transitions of retired civil servants and noted that many were interested in moving to the community care sector in their retirement years.

“The CCIP facilitates this transition by providing comprehensive support through learning journeys with community care organisations, training courses, and job placements,” Ms Thanaletchimi said.

Partner NTUC to set up a Company Training Committee to transform your business and workforce today!

Unionised companies: Contact your unions.

Other companies: Visit the NTUC Company Training Committee website to find out more.