Carer supporting an elderly woman in a wheelchair

Adult social care workforce needs immediate action

Councils across the country have called on the government to take immediate action to tackle the ongoing crisis within the adult social care workforce.

This comes after the publication of a new report from the Local Government Association, that has found that there are widespread staffing shortages, increasing reliance on agency workers, and financial pressures that are continuing to mount on councils.

With these findings coming ahead of the Autumn Budget at the end of this month, the Local Government Association has urged the government to implement a long-term workforce strategy for adult social care. Fully funded, this strategy would support the sector to attract and retain skilled members of staff.

Alongside this, the government is also being urged to give councils the resources that they need to reduce their reliance on agency staff, with this not being conducive to  a long-term, sustainable solution to the issues.

Surveying councils for the report, the LGA found that:

  • There was an estimated 63,370 full-time equivalent members of staff working in adult social care as of October 2023, with 10,060 vacant positions
  • Roles involving qualified mental health social workers were the hardest to fill, with 87% of councils reporting issues with recruitment
  • Around £292 million was being spent on agency staff in 2023/24, a £15 million increase from the year before.
Graphic outlining issues in adult social care

Chair of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board Cllr David Fothergill, said:
“The adult social care workforce plays an essential role in supporting people of all ages to live full, independent lives. But this sector is at breaking point, with vacancies, turnover, and low pay creating growing pressures that have led to a significant amount of unmet and under-met need. 

“Without urgent intervention, councils will struggle to meet their legal duties to people who draw on care. We are calling on the Government to work quickly and closely with councils on a fair pay agreement for care workers to attract and retain skilled professionals, implementing a fully funded workforce strategy for the sector, and providing councils with the resources they need to reduce their reliance on costly agency staff. 

This is vital for building a sustainable adult social care workforce that can continue to provide high-quality care. This workforce crisis requires urgent attention and cross-party collaboration. We are urging all political parties to put the national interest first and work together to secure the future of adult social care.”

Whilst also calling for action on adult social care staffing, the Local Government Association was one of a number of organisations that wrote to Chancellor Rachel Reeves this week, to inform her of the issues that councils are facing. The report was signed by:

  • Local Government Association
  • County Councils Network
  • District Councils Network
  • London Councils
  • Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities
  • Core Cities
  • Key Cities

The letter went on to outline a number of struggles facing councils, including funding challenges across SEND services, home to school transport, homelessness, and welfare.

 

Image credit: iStock

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