2023-10-12 14:46:00
We must grasp the opportunity to address recruitment and retention in adult social care – Hft
Although the 7% drop in vacant posts since 2021/22 reported in the latest Skills for Care data on the state of the adult social care sector and workforce in England is, at first glance, good news, it is still 152,000 vacancies too many.
So says Kirsty Matthews, CEO of learning disability charity Hft, who was responding to the report, The State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England.
“We know the impact of this from our Sector Pulse Check report which found that, in 2022, over half of adult social care providers turned down new admissions due to high staff vacancies, while nearly one fifth closed services,” she says.
“It is true that reductions in vacancies were driven largely by international recruitment, which is sustaining the sector. Yet this is simply not available to many providers due to the cost and complexity of the process.
“Recruitment and retention issues are overwhelmingly attributed to low pay – this was highlighted as the most substantial challenge to workforce recruitment by 90% of providers in our Sector Pulse Check research, with employees feeling undervalued and being pulled away by higher wages offered elsewhere.
“It is worth noting that many care providers want to pay their staff more, both in recognition of their skill and contribution, but also to alleviate the crisis in recruitment and retention. Yet 81% of organisations said the fees they received from Local Authorities to deliver care did not even cover the costs associated with increases to the NLW. This places huge financial strain upon providers who are forced to find this money elsewhere in order to meet hourly wage requirements in line with the NLW, let alone offer a competitive wage over and above this amount. With the NLW due to increase to at least £11 in 2023, it is likely this financial challenge will only deepen in the coming year.
“Hft is lucky, however, in that it has passionate, dedicated frontline staff who are instrumental in supporting learning disabled adults to lead fulfilling lives and to be as independent as possible.
“Overall, the data in this report must be seen as an opportunity to fundamentally address recruitment and retention challenges which are a constant threat to our sector. Nothing makes the case for this more strongly than the fact that – as reported by Skills for Care – adult social care adds £55.7bn to the economy. It is imperative that we invest in this workforce.
“We are glad, therefore, that with the insight in this report, Skills for Care will be leading the way by putting together a social care workforce strategy, and we look forward to contributing to this where we can.”
Notes to editors
For further information please email media.enquiries@hft.org.uk
About Hft
Proudly established in 1962 by a group of visionary parents, Hft is a charity supporting more than 2,500 learning disabled adults in England and Wales. Together, we are creating a future where learning disabled people and their families can live the best life possible.
Providing personalised support. Creating solutions for living independently. Coming together to campaign for positive change. Fundraising for new opportunities and a bigger impact.
In 2033, we’ll live in a world where learning disabled people have greater choice. About where they live. The support they need and want. And how to spend their time and money.
Learning disability versus difficulty
A learning disability is different from a learning difficulty but the terms are often confused and used inter-changeably. A learning difficulty does not affect general intellect, whereas a learning disability is a life-long condition characterised by a reduced intellectual ability and struggle with everyday activities.
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For more information about Hft please visit www.hft.org.uk
