Addressing social care pay essential for a sustainable care workforce Health Foundation response to Skills for Care’s adult social care workforce data and workforce strategy

Responding to the publication today of Skills for Care’s adult social care workforce data and workforce strategy, Lucinda Allen, Senior Policy Officer at the Health Foundation, said:  

'Today’s data highlight the persistent social care workforce crisis in England. The workforce has grown but around 8% of roles remain vacant – this is higher than pre-pandemic levels and significantly higher than the wider economy.  

‘International recruitment was the main driver behind the boost to the care workforce last year: in the independent care sector, one in three new starters providing care was recruited internationally. This ongoing reliance on international recruitment is precarious, given the tightening of Care Worker Visa rules and the new government’s pledge to reduce immigration levels.  

‘We welcome the recommendations in Skills for Care’s adult social care workforce strategy, including for the government to lead action to improve pay, terms and conditions for care workers and to invest in training and career progression. The strategy is a positive first step but ensuring that we have enough staff to care for our population in the long term will require sustained policy action and funding from national government. The Health Foundation’s new report with the Nuffield Trust, also published today, shows that a more targeted government policy on care worker pay is essential, such as a sector-specific minimum wage and pay scale for social care.  

‘Beyond workforce policy, the social care system desperately needs wider reform, including to better protect people against the costs of care. With its sizeable majority and fresh mandate, the new government must seize the opportunity to improve the lives of people with care needs and their carers.’