Commenting on the Department of Health and Social Care’s
announcement, on the detail of the allocation of the £500m to
support social care workforce training, the interim deputy chief
executive and director of policy and strategy of NHS Providers,
Miriam Deakin said:
“National support to enable social care staff to develop their
careers through training and development opportunities, is one
important factor in helping to attract and retain staff in
essential caring roles.
“But the detail of this funding comes at a time when the social
care sector is facing significant recruitment and retention
issues, with over 160,000 vacancies. The most
recent Skills for Care
report showed that the number of filled posts in adult
social care is down for the first time on record.
“A lack of clear pathways for career progression and staff
burnout have been cited as two major contributors to why adult
social care providers struggle to retain staff. This sits
alongside a clear need for better pay.
“Health and care leaders welcomed the £500m support package when
it was originally announced in September 2021. But more
action is needed by government in the short and longer term to
place our social care system on a sustainable footing.
“Historical underinvestment in social care and its staff has a
serious knock-on impact on the NHS, making it more difficult for
people to remain independent at home if they cannot access
support, and often exacerbating delayed discharges from hospital
which are a pressing problem.”
