Just How Much of an Issue Is the Current Staff Shortage?

The current staff shortage of care workers in England is becoming an increasing concern with fears that if the shortage continues, the care system could be thrown into a state of chaos

With the number of people needing care and unfilled care staff vacancies rising simultaneously, will this problem be rectified anytime soon?

Why Is It an Issue?

According to a recent report published by the National Audit Office, the care system in England has become a ‘Cinderella service’, with many care staff feeling undervalued, unsupported and underpaid.

The report also revealed that the turnover rate for care staff in England has been increasing since 2012-13, and that in 2016-17 it reached 27.8%. The vacancy rate for jobs in social care in 2016-17 was 6.6%, which is well above the national average.

Undervalued and Underpaid

The National Audit Office stated in the report that in 2016-17, approximately half of workers in the care industry were paid just £7.50 or below, when the National Living Wage was £7.20 during this time. Compared with other workers in the health sector, this is significantly less.

A Growing Problem

Unfortunately, it looks as though the problem is only going to get worse as trends suggest that the demand for care workers is set to increase. It is also predicted that individual care needs are going to become more complex over the next few years.

The Department of Health and Social Care estimates that the care sector’s workforce needs to increase by 2.6% every year until 2035 – a target that seems impossible given today’s situation.

What’s the Solution?

According to the National Audit Office’s report, The Department of Health and Social Care do not currently have a workforce strategy. With the sector in the state that it is, it is clear that the Department needs to work on a strategy that will make jobs in care much more desirable.

If staff were more well paid, given improved working conditions and increased support, perhaps the issues the care system is currently facing would be diminished.