The National Care Forum (NCF) – the leading association for not-for-profit social care and support organisations has responded to the publication of Skills for Care’s size and structure of the adult social care sector and workforce in England report.
Professor Vic Rayner, CEO of the NCF said:
“The report shows that the workforce situation in social care remains critical. The small reduction in vacancies is a direct result of the fantastic contribution that our international colleagues have made to support the delivery of social care up and down the country. Over 70,000 workers have joined the English care workforce from other countries, and their presence is a contribution to be celebrated, whilst at the same time recognising it masks a further shrinking of the domestic workforce. The gaping strategic hole created by the absence of a funded workforce plan for social care could not be any clearer, and the government must take action now.
“Research from Age UK earlier this week makes it abundantly clear that there are already hundreds of thousands of older people who are not able to access the care they need, recent ADASS research outlines the large numbers of people of all ages awaiting assessments for care, and all demographic indicators make it clear that this is only going to increase in the years to come. We need a funded strategic workforce plan that recognises the skills and experiences needed to care for the future and ensures that workers receive the pay, terms and conditions they deserve.”
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Note to Editors:
- The National Care Forum brings together over 170 of the UK’s leading social care organisations, representing large numbers of care providers, offering thousands of services across the country, which are not for profit and always at the heart of community provision. Collectively, these organisations deliver more than £2.3 billion of social care and support to more than 277,000 people. The NCF membership body collectively employs more than 124,000 staff and 14,000 volunteers.
- More information is available on the National Care Forum at www.nationalcareforum.org.uk. @NCFCareForum @vicrayner @NCF_Liz
- For enquiries, please contact Victoria Garratt (victoria.garratt@nationalcareforum.org.uk) & Nathan Jones (nathan.jones@nationalcareforum.org.uk).
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