Major reform of social care funding and provision needed
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The Communities and Local Government Committee report says that the Government needs to urgently review how social care is funded in the long term and address serious threats to social care provision.
Inadequate funding affects quantity and quality
The report finds inadequate funding very seriously affects the quantity and quality of adult social care provision, impacting on those receiving care, the NHS, care staff, carers and providers. The report sets out a number of recommendations relating to the monitoring of care services, care commissioning, and the care workforce.
Key facts from the report
- 28% of care services are inadequate or require improvement
- The turnover rate for nurses working in social care is 35.9%
- 47.8% of care workers leave within a year of starting
- 27% of care workers received no dementia training and 24% of those who administer medication were not trained to do so
- Between 2010–11 and 2013–14, the number of unpaid carers increased by 16.5%, while the general population grew by 6.2%
- One in five unpaid carers providing 50 hours or more of care each week receives no practical support from the local authority
The high vacancy and turnover rates, particularly among nurses in social care, point to severe challenges in the social care workforce. The report refers to a range of factors that contributes to this. These factors included low pay not reflecting the amount or importance of the work involved, low status, poor terms and conditions, and lack of training opportunities and career progression.
EduCare for Health & Social Care® is a package of multiple training courses made specifically for workers in the care sector and provides a cost-effective way to train staff on the knowledge and skills required to meet CQC inspection criteria. Contact us if you would like to know more.
