13/07/2017
In figures which have recently been released, it came to light that last year in England more than 900 adult care workers quit their jobs daily, leaving social care services with growing staff shortages. This also means that vulnerable people are not receiving the high level of care that they need.
Mike Padgham, chairman of the UK Homecare Association wrote to the prime minister about these figures, adding that the adult care system has now begun to collapse. The adult care system includes people over the age of 18 years. Because the population is ageing, there is an increased demand for this service. The government says that it has invested £2 billion in the system.
People providing care to those who live in their own homes, or in nursing homes agree that the growing shortage means that the level of care has deteriorated over the years.
Sue Gregory, a care home nurse for 13 years says that it is just not possible to keep the same level, and consistency of care if nursing homes and care agencies are permanently recruiting new staff. Gregory agrees that this is not a profession which suits every person, and it relies heavily on the carer getting to know the people they are looking after.
The charity 'Skills for Care' documented that in 2015-2016 over 1.3 million people were employed in the adult care sector in the UK. The study also showed that approximately 338,520 care workers quit their care jobs in 2015-2016. This equated to 900 carers a day who stopped working as carers. A massive 60% of all those who quit, left the adult care sector altogether, and found work elsewhere.
One point which may contribute to this exodus of carers is the salary scale. The average full-time carer earns £7.69 per hour, or £14,800 per year. Compared to the median average UK salary last year which was £27,600 for people in full time employment, it is not surprising that carers leave.
The estimated shortage of care workers is currently 84,320 which means that one in every twenty care positions is not filled.
Another point which came to light is that one in four social care workers is employed on a zero hours contract.
The figures bring to light the fact that providers are battling to hire good staff, and also to keep the staff, with the industry having a turnover of 27%. This figure is almost double the average of other professions.
Trudi Hewitt, who is 25 and working at a care home in North Yorkshire admits that she does not intend to do the job for the rest of her career. She feels that while she loves her job, the care sector, as a whole is a dead end career path to take. What hurts and disheartens her is the fact that people who are basically unskilled can earn much more than she does, while stocking shelves at supermarkets, or flipping burgers at a fast food outlet.
The Office for National Statistics states that by 2040, the number of people over the age of 75 will double, and the government has agreed to commit to an extra £2 billion to the care sector. Local authorities will also be allowed to raise council tax bills to fund care services.
Social Care Service Providers agree that without radical changes, there simply will not be enough people to take care of an ageing population.
Mr Padgham, in his letter to the prime minister, says that his biggest fear is that the country will soon run out of capacity to provide for those who cannot afford to fund themselves. He feels that the system has already begun to collapse.
The Department of Health says that social care jobs have increased, but they would like to see more increases, and less turnover in staff. Their records indicate that a total of 87,800 apprentices started last year, and this is an increase of 37,300 since 2010.
Downing Street had not responded to Mr Padgham's letter, other to thank him for it.
