Posted 10 January 2024 - 13:53
Posted 10 January 2024 - 13:53
News
Social care: new qualifications and career path aim to boost recruits
Government says new measures seek to ‘recognise social care as the skilled profession it is’, but Unison warns a hike in pay is needed ‘or staff will continue to leave in droves’
Government says new measures seek to ‘recognise social care as the skilled profession it is’, but Unison warns a hike in pay is needed ‘or staff will continue to leave in droves’
New qualifications and investment in apprenticeships are among measures being rolled out to boost the domestic social care workforce.
Wide-ranging plans were announced by the government today to change perceptions of roles in the sector. Social care minister Helen Whately said: ‘There are many talented people across the country who would thrive in care work but haven’t seen it as a career choice.
‘We’re changing that; our new career path and qualifications recognise social care as the skilled profession it is.’
Qualifications to benefit up to 37,000 workers
The Department of Health and Social Care announced more than £50 million of funding to support up to 37,000 people in direct adult social care jobs to enrol on a new level 2 adult social care certificate qualification between June 2024 and March 2025.
A new national career structure, with defined roles and professional development, will also be introduced for the first time.
The department said more than £20 million will be available for local authorities and adult social care providers to put towards training and supervising hundreds of new social work and nurse apprentices.
The funding is part of previously announced investment under the government’s People at the Heart of Care plan.
‘Ministers must address poor pay and employment terms’
RCN director for England Patricia Marquis said: ‘We hope ministers are at last getting the message that the only way to fill the significant vacancies in social care is by valuing nursing and care staff, and boosting domestic recruitment.
‘However, the plans will fail if they are not backed up by new funding commitments, further detail and a comprehensive workforce plan.’
She said turnover of nursing staff in the social care sector was three times higher than in the NHS, with the sector kept afloat by internationally recruited staff, which was not ‘ethical or sustainable’.
‘Ministers must also address poor pay and employment terms for nursing staff working in social care – at least matching the NHS Agenda for Change contract,’ Ms Marquis added.
‘Retail and hospitality pay much more’ than social care
Unison head of social care Gavin Edwards said: ‘Any attempt to fix the social care staffing crisis will be fatally undermined unless the government delivers the investment and reform that’s desperately needed. Otherwise, it’s like putting a shiny new wing mirror on a car with a broken engine.
‘What’s required is a significant hike in pay or staff will continue to leave in droves. Retail and hospitality pay much more with far less pressure.’
Announcement follows migrant visa proposal
The government’s announcement comes just over a month after proposed changes to migrant visas were announced, which would see care workers from overseas banned from bringing dependants when they come to work in the UK.
Care leaders said they were blindsided by the announcement and had ‘grave concerns’ that the changes could drive international recruits away from care work.
Further information
The state of the adult social care sector and workforce in England
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