Unison’s latest survey on care staff mental health - Liz Kendall responds

“Care workers have made immense sacrifices to look after our loved ones, especially during the pandemic. Yet, despite over 100,000 vacancies in social care, and mounting mental health concerns among staff, the Government has presented no plan for the winter, and no immediate funding to fix this crisis. The only thing this Government has guaranteed is a tax rise for hard-working care staff, who are already underpaid and undervalued.

“Unless urgent action is taken on this, it will only get worse. Staff will continue to leave the sector, and older and disabled people will be at risk of going without the care they need. Ministers must present a long-term workforce plan to fix the crisis in social care, delivering the pay, training, terms and conditions that our care staff need.”