Improving career prospects for the domestic workforce

Care England, the largest representative body of independent providers of adult social care in England, has today, 10 January 2024, welcomed the Government’s package of support for the domestic workforce, but has expressed concern that this may only scratch the surface of what is required to resolve the recruitment and retention challenges.

Professor Martin Green OBE said:

“This package of measures, including the Care Workforce Pathway, is an opportunity to be an asset to the sector and has the potential to make it a more attractive sector to work in. The value of enhancing our domestic workforce can’t be understated, particularly as we lost over 50,000 domestic workers last year which were replaced by 70,000 international recruits. This value has only become greater in light of the changes made by the Home Office to the international recruitment route late last year.”

The plans being rolled out include:

• The launch of the Care Workforce Pathway: For the first time, there will be a national career structure for the adult social care workforce, covering the breadth and complexity of care.
• Over £50 million of funding for a new qualification: This will support up to 37,000 individuals in direct adult social care roles to enrol on the new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification between June 2024 and March 2025.
• An investment of over £20 million for apprenticeships: Local authorities and adult social care providers will be able to use the money towards training and supervising hundreds of new social work and nurse apprentices.
• Subsidised training places: An uplift to the Workforce Development Fund will expand access to learning and development, creating opportunities for the workforce to become experts in their field or progress into new roles.
• A new digital leadership qualification: This will help equip social care leaders and managers with the confidence and capability to lead the implementation and use of technology in the delivery of care.

The Department of Health and Social Care press release can be found on GOV.UK.

Care England responded to the Care Workforce Pathway call for evidence, which closed on 31 May 2023.

Martin Green continues:

“We know career structures and pathways play a key role in attracting and keeping people in adult social care roles. But these are not the only factors. This package of support must be the precedent the Government sets for the year. The promise from this Government to fix social care feels like a distant memory but this is a welcome reminder that this promise has not been forgotten. The impetus is now on the government to turn the tide and make good on their promise.”