The care staff crisis: exploring its impact.
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Recent workforce analysis by Skills for Care has revealed the number of unfilled care jobs rose by 52% in a year. This is the fastest rate on record. Due to the ever-growing staff shortages within the sector, more than half a million adults in England are currently waiting for social care assistance. The growing numbers of people needing care and the increasing complexity of their needs coupled with the current recruitment and retention shortfall means demand is far outstripping capacity. This is having a detrimental impact on the people who need care, unpaid carers and on all health and care services and staff.
To explore the impact the lack of access to paid care is having, Healthwatch North Yorkshire ran three short surveys, one for individuals who need care and unpaid carers, one for care home and domiciliary care staff, and one for other support organisations. 93 responses were received for these surveys and one-to-one conversations with unpaid carers and care staff captures in-depth experiences.
Key findings:
The challenges that the sector is facing in recruiting and retaining staff is:
- Having a detrimental impact on the physical and mental health of the people who need care.
- Placing significant pressure on unpaid carers, mentally, physically, and financially.
- Increasing the stress and pressure placed on care home and domiciliary care staff.
- Perpetuating capacity issues in hospitals due to delayed discharge.
Unless urgent action is taken, these problems are only going to worsen as the number of people who need care increases, the number of care workers continues to fall, and the cost-of-living crisis deepens.
Recommendations:
1. Structured reform is required nationally to recognise the value of social care and the integral part it plays across our health system. This includes:
- Increased funding, improved staff pay-scales and training in line with the NHS.
- Additional support for social care staff such as tax relief, access to affordable housing, key worker status etc.
- Increased recognition and investment for social care as a profession and career opportunity.
- Increased support and recognition for unpaid carers.
2. Our MPs act on behalf of their constituents and those people working in social care. They ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP, to bring about urgent reforms to the social care system.
3. Our commissioners and providers work collaboratively across North Yorkshire to bring about effective solutions, involving those people delivering and receiving care, and the community, voluntary and social enterprises (CVSE) sector, such as the Independent Care Group (ICG).
4. Humber & North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire (includes Craven) Integrated Care Systems prioritise improvements in the social care workforce to bring about increased staffing levels, retention, well-being, training, and career opportunities.