Social care workforce strategy overdue

Two reports have been published this week on the health and social care workforce. One, the Health and Social Care Committee’s Inquiry on Workforce: Recruitment, training and retention in Health and Social Care.  Another, by an Expert Panel convened by the Committee has rated the Government’s fulfilment of its commitments on the health and social care workforce (in the style of the CQC) overall Inadequate.

Dr Jane Townson, Chief Executive of the Homecare Association said:

The health and social care workforce should be an urgent priority for the Government’s new leadership. 

A new workforce strategy for social care is long overdue. There must be a clear understanding going forward of what it would take to meet projected demand and how to recruit, reward and retain staff. Skills for Care data has shown a 4% drop in filled homecare posts, despite ADASS reporting rising demand. There is no question that rising unmet need is linked to under-staffing.

We welcome the Committee’s call for parity with NHS staff and for the cost of care to take into account salaries equivalent to NHS Band 3. We have been calling for an end to time and task commissioning for some years now and urge the Government to take action.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• The Homecare Association is the UK’s membership body for homecare providers, with over 2,300 members nationally. The Homecare Association’s mission is to work together to ensure that homecare is valued, so that all of us can live well at home and flourish within our communities. The Homecare Association takes the lead in shaping homecare, in collaboration with partners across the care sector, and provides hands-on support and practical tools for its members. As a member-led professional association, the Homecare Association's members agree to abide by the Association's Code of Practice.
• For further information please contact: Homecare Association Ltd, Sutton Business Centre, Restmor Way, Wallington, SM6 7AH. Telephone: 020 8661 8165. Mobile: 07393 012 113. www.homecareassociation.org.uk