This is very welcome news for a workforce that has been undervalued for far too long. Adult social care employs around 1.6 million people and contributes almost £78 billion to the wider economy, but the picture overall is still one of a workforce in critical condition.
High vacancy and turnover rates characterise the sector, making it harder to provide high-quality care and support. Despite this, the skill and dedication shown every day by carers, both paid and unpaid, hold our sector together, enabling people up and down the country to live fulfilling and independent lives.
Fair pay, clearer career pathways, investment in training and development, and a collective pension scheme could be transformative in helping to attract and retain the workforce we need to meet the growing demand for social care.
Taken together with the Prime Minister’s commitment to a person-centred, high-quality and home-first National Care Service, these announcements pave the way for a more sustainable future for both the people who work in social care and the people who rely on it.
Gerard Crofton-Martin
Interim Chief Executive, SCIE