Commenting on the annual Skills for Care The state of the
adult social care sector and workforce in England report, Simon
Bottery, Senior Fellow, The King’s Fund said:
‘Today’s report shows why a long-term workforce strategy for
social care is desperately needed. While the total number of
vacancies has fallen slightly, this is only because 70,000 staff
were recruited from overseas to fill gaping holes in the
workforce. This is not a long-term solution to staffing the
sector. And despite this overseas recruitment drive, vacancies
are still much higher compared to other sectors, meaning that
many people will struggle to get the care they need.
‘The sector’s workforce continues to be characterised by high
turnover rates and low pay with limited opportunities for career
advancement – a typical care worker is earning only 6p an hour
more after five years’ experience than a new starter. The sector
is still attracting too few men and younger people, and
zero-hours contracts remain widespread.
‘These serious workforce issues are symptomatic of a wider social
care crisis, with more people requesting support but fewer people
getting it, local authorities paying providers too little for the
quality services that are required, and desperately low levels of
public satisfaction with social care. Wider reform and improved
funding are needed if social care is to operate as part of a
modern health and care system that maximises the health and
wellbeing of its citizens. ’
‘As announced today, Skills for Care will be developing a new and
comprehensive strategy for the social care workforce and we are
delighted to be working with them to help take that
forward.’
