Three in five providers dug deep into their own pockets during
the last year to fund mental health first aiders as part of a
raft of preventative measures taken to safeguard their staff, a
newly published report reveals.
Independent research commissioned by learning disabilities
charity, Hft, found that Covid-19 has taken its toll on the
social care workforce, with 62% of providers reporting a rise in
absenteeism relating to mental health since the beginning of the
pandemic. Compared to last year, this marks a 10% increase on
average across the sector, during a time when care staff are
playing a crucial role on the frontline to support vulnerable
adults.
The report, reflecting on the previous year, highlights a rise in
a range of actions that were taken to promote mental health
across the board in an effort to protect the workforce, despite
more than 56% of providers reporting declining surpluses or
already being in deficit. Nearly all providers (96%) reported
signposting to mental health services, up from 67%, while 87%
provided mental health awareness training. The number providing
in-house mental health first aiders has also risen from 38% to
62%.
This is Hft’s fourth annual Sector Pulse Check report, carried
out by independent economics and business consultancy Cebr, and
the first of its kind to focus primarily on learning disability
providers. Based on survey analysis from social care providers,
it provides an annual snapshot of the financial health and the
challenges faced by the social care sector over the past year,
and an indication of how providers anticipate the next twelve
months will progress.
The report also highlights that social care providers appear to
be reaching a crisis point and have been forced to resort to
measures to reduce capacity to tackle the persistent cost
pressures over recent years. The main cost pressure cited was
rising wage bills (79%) followed by lack of fee income (63%). As
a result, more than half (62%) said they have had to close down
some parts of their organisation or hand back marginal contracts,
up from 45% in the previous report.
Around a third (29%) of providers have made redundancies, in
keeping with the last two years, with one in ten saying they have
had to offer care to fewer individuals. This is a trend that
looks set to continue, with over half (51%) stating they are more
likely to close down some parts of their organisation or hand
back marginal contracts and 47% likely to make staff redundancies
in response to Covid-19 cost pressures.
The research has prompted calls from the charity to shine a light
on the pandemic’s forgotten workforce by publicly recognising
their efforts and investing in the sector. An open invitation has
been sent to all MPs, offering the opportunity to find out more
about the report and the challenges faced by the sector at a
virtual parliamentary event on Wednesday 10 March 2021.
Kirsty Matthews, Chief Executive for Hft, said: “Our Sector Pulse
report shows that in a year where the social care sector has
played a pivotal role on the frontline, providers have gone to
great lengths to support staff, who are crucial role to
supporting some of the most vulnerable adults in society.
“It’s time to shine a light on the pandemic’s undervalued
workforce and publicly recognise their efforts. It is vital the
government provides a cash injection specifically to ensure
frontline social care staff have the mental health support they
deserve, and that it is not at the expense of an already
beleaguered sector.
“While the Covid-19 pandemic has seen some additional funding
enter the sector, it falls far short of solving an enduring and
underlying financial challenge. The precarious financial
situation is a culmination of years of financial pressures, which
have forced providers to take drastic action in order to remain
sustainable. It is vital that the government brings forward a
long term funding solution for adult social care to safeguard the
future of the sector.”
Josie Dent, Managing Economist at Cebr, said: “The finances of
the social care sector continue to stand in a precarious position
as costs rise, yet in spite of this, the research shows providers
have increased their mental health support for staff over the
past year. Furthermore, a lack of fee income, cited by over three
in five organisations, means these increasing costs are difficult
to fund. We are therefore seeing more and more providers close
down some parts of their organisation or hand back marginal
contracts and services to their local authority, with 62% taking
this action in 2020”.
Dr Rhidian Hughes, chief executive of the Voluntary Organisations
Disability Group, said: “This year’s Hft Sector Pulse Report
highlights the extent to which the coronavirus pandemic has
exacerbated the challenges already faced by an over-stretched and
underfunded social care sector. High quality support services for
disabled people can be transformative and this report, as we
collectively look to recover from a truly challenging year,
clearly exposes how the government and it agencies must do away
with short-term fixes and instead invest in sustainable,
long-term reform.”
Hft is now calling on the government to ensure the future
financial sustainability of the social care sector by providing
immediate funding to stabilise the social care system while
working towards an equitable and sustainable funding solution in
the longer term.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- 72 social care providers responded to this year’s Sector
Pulse Check survey.
