The latest report from Skills for Care paints a complex and concerning picture of the adult social care workforce in England.
International recruitment has been vital in addressing our sector's workforce crisis. Between 2021/22 and 2023/24, there were 185,000 international recruits in the adult social care sector. This influx of workers has been the driving force behind recent improvements in the workforce numbers.
Changes in Home Office rules and procedures have, however, led to a dramatic decline in international recruitment.
From an average of 26,000 recruits per quarter throughout 2023/24, we've seen a sharp decline to just 8,000 international recruits in the April-June 2024 quarter.
Data show 70,000 fewer British workers in the sector between 2021/22 and 2023/24. This drop highlights the ongoing struggles with domestic recruitment and retention. This makes the decline in international recruitment of 70% in one quarter even more alarming.
The sector still faces significant challenges, with 131,000 vacancies (an 8.3% vacancy rate) and a turnover rate of 24.2%. While this is the lowest turnover since 2014/15, it still represents a considerable churn in our workforce.
Looking ahead, the projection that we will need 540,000 new posts by 2040 – 29% more than we had in 2023-24 – underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive, long-term workforce strategy. Without significant changes, we face looming challenges in care provision. An insufficient number of care workers risks an increase in unmet need in the community. This will likely increase pressure on the NHS.
CEO of the Homecare Association, Dr Jane Townson OBE said:
"The adult social care sector is vital to the health and wellbeing of millions of people across England, contributing £68.1 billion to the economy. We need to take action now to deal with workforce issues and create a strong and skilled workforce that can meet the needs of our ageing population. The Workforce Strategy provides many of the solutions – what we need now is swift and decisive action to implement it."
The Homecare Association calls on the government to:
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Address the factors causing the rapid slowdown in international recruitment. Ministers must ensure an immigration system which aligns with the realities of care delivery and can respond to shortages.
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Implement targeted strategies to improve domestic recruitment and retention. The government must support implementation of the Workforce Strategy led by Skills for Care; this provides many of the solutions needed to address these issues.
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Invest in training and development, noting that only 41% of care workers have a relevant qualification at Level 2 or above.
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Address pay in the sector. To begin, the government should establish a National Contract for Care Services that sets a minimum price for public purchase of care services. HM Treasury needs to allocate enough funding for public bodies to ensure they can meet the conditions of this contract. Employers will then be able to meet the terms of a Fair Pay Agreement. Regulators must have the skills and resources needed to monitor and enforce compliance.
ENDS
Contacts
Dr Jane Townson OBE, CEO, Homecare Association
Email - [email protected]
Mobile number - 07393 012 113
Notes to editors
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The Homecare Association is the UK’s membership body for homecare providers, with over 2,200 members nationally. Our mission is to ensure that homecare receives the investment it deserves, so all of us can live well at home and flourish within our communities. The Homecare Association acts as a trusted voice, taking a lead in shaping homecare, in collaboration with partners across the care sector. It also provides hands-on support and practical tools for its members. The Homecare Association's members agree to abide by the Association's Code of Practice.
