The Homecare Association welcomes the Workforce Strategy for Adult Social Care in England. Skills for Care led this work collaboratively, with input from many sector experts. The document sets out a visionary yet pragmatic roadmap to attract, retain, train and transform the social care workforce over the next 15 years.
Our recent homecare workforce survey highlights the imperative for action. The care workforce provides a vital public service and the nation’s health and wealth depend on timely access to care and health experts when needed. It is therefore in everyone’s interests for us to strengthen the skills and numbers of care workers to meet rising demand.
Dr Jane Townson OBE, CEO of the Homecare Association, commented:
"This workforce strategy represents a pivotal moment for adult social care. We are speaking with a unified voice across the sector about the importance of our workforce and the value of care in our communities.
A strategy is, however, just the beginning. Achieving this vision requires the government's unwavering commitment; efficient planning and implementation; and continuous collaboration across the sector. The Homecare Association and our members stand ready to play our part in this vital transformation."
The Homecare Association particularly welcomes the recommendations to:
- Lead joined-up action on pay, terms and conditions over several years to make social care roles more competitive and rewarding.
- Develop a 10-year plan to attract more people, especially younger workers, men and those with tech skills, into the workforce.
- Make a commitment to employees through a "People Promise" and invest to enhance work-life balance and professional growth.
- Expand opportunities for skill development and career advancement.
- Put workforce planning on a statutory footing and create a central implementation body to drive the strategy.
Implementing these would help to address the top barriers to recruitment and retention identified by our members; namely, low fee rates, lack of guaranteed hours, and unattractive employment terms.
Our work emphasises the dependencies between workforce, funding, commissioning and regulation in social care. For example, care employers can only offer higher and more secure pay if they receive higher and more secure fee rates from councils and the NHS. This requires investment. The government must address all factors affecting employment conditions in social care.
The Homecare Association is eager to work with sector partners to create a skilled workforce that can meet present and future demands.