Hello, Goodbye…
Of the many things that make my reading list, the “State of the Adult Social Care Workforce in England”, published by Skills for Care, is always right up there. They never fail to produce something which is both informative and insightful as they clearly enunciate where our sector is, its context, and its outlook, taking their lead from over 2,000 providers who contributed to the report. Sadly, it is as informative as it is disheartening in just how tough this sector has been, is and will - I fear - continue to be.
The depth of data is powerful, and none more so than the imbalance of supply and demand. Whilst vacant posts have risen by 52% over the preceding year, the need for another 480,000 new recruits just to meet demand by 2035, is perhaps the starkest example. At the time of this report, there were approximately 165,000 social care vacancies.
As those requiring help and support enter through one door, those providing that much needed support are exiting through another: 400,000 left their jobs in the last 12 months, with just over 60% remaining in the sector. At the same time, the number of people in the workforce has shrunk by 50,000.
Turnover rates are nearly 30% (over 50% for younger staff and just under 45% for nurses), whilst over 60% of those leaving stay within the sector - not great given that we need to attract non sector people if we are to stand any chance of meeting the demands of the future.
Now, I’m an optimist whose natural instinct is to spend the next few paragraphs giving you the solution. However, given that I am neither Clark Kent nor Diane Prince, I am afraid my words will be devoid of said solution. There are multiple reasons for that. There is a level of complexity that serves only to complicate and, at worse, encourage procrastination. For those in this sector, this is a well-trodden conversation, and increasingly for those outside the sector, it is becoming clearer by the day and that's got to be a good thing. Let’s hope that the importance of social care is seen by those new to the cabinet as a priority. Let’s also hope that next year's “State of the Adult Social Care Workforce in England” report will reflect findings that contain a level of positivity and progress that the sector deserves - and desperately needs.