Social care: funding boost will flounder without workforce plan
Posted 31 July 2023 - 07:00
Social care leaders have welcomed a £600 million investment boost, but warn that it needs to be backed up by a long-term workforce plan to tackle staff shortages
A new multimillion pound investment in the social care sector needs to be backed by a long-term workforce plan, health leaders have said.
Government U-turn on social care funding
The government has announced £600 million to support the social care workforce and boost capacity ahead of winter, just months after confirming half of a previously pledged £500 million for social care would be held back.
The investment includes a £570 million workforce fund over two years distributed to local authorities and £30 million funding for local authorities with ‘the most challenged health systems’.
The funding will work alongside the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan to build a stronger foundation for the health and social care workforce, according to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). However, no recruitment targets have been set.
Need for a clear strategy on social care nursing
Wren Hall Nursing Homes managing director and registered nurse Anita Astle welcomed the investment, but warned it was not enough to ‘fix’ the challenges faced in social care.
‘Social care nursing is an area of social care that is too often overlooked and inadequately resourced. We need to attract more nurses into social care and we need to develop their skills as autonomous leaders of care,’ she told Nursing Standard.
‘However, rather than pockets of money, what social care needs is a long-term social care workforce plan and clear strategy for social care nursing.’
Royal Star & Garter chief executive Andy Cole welcomed the funding but said it was not sufficient to address the underlying pressures across the system. ‘We still need a long-term solution, not just a Christmas present,’ he told Nursing Standard.
‘The fundamental issues which bind social care will only be tackled by wider reform and through supporting a long-term workforce plan. Our staff are highly skilled professionals but too often they are undervalued.
'Parity of reward with the NHS for roles that are the same should be expected. Low pay is a false economy in such a vital public service.’
Long-term plan is needed to tackle growing vacancy rate
The King’s Fund, Nuffield Trust and NHS Confederation echoed calls for a long-term social care workforce plan to plug vacancies and support with hospital discharge.
There are currently about 165,000 staff vacancies in social care. Skills for Care figures suggest a nurse turnover rate in social care of 44% compared with 11% for NHS counterparts, and a nurse vacancy rate of 14%.
Adult social care in England has a registered nursing vacancy rate of about 4,900 – one of the highest among staff groups in the sector.
Senior fellow at the King’s Fund Simon Bottery said the funding will offer relief to struggling local authorities and social care providers. But he added: ‘Clearly, however, this is not the properly funded workforce plan that social care needs.’
Staffing issues will continue without a clearer investment plan, says NHS Confederation chief
NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor said: ‘Health leaders will look forward to seeing the funding put to good use especially as they plan for winter, but without a long-term workforce plan for social care, vacancy gaps and supporting hospital discharge will be an ongoing issue that will never be fully resolved.’
Minister for social care Helen Whately said the investment will mean more money going to the front line to ensure people get the care they need when they need it.
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