Skills For Care report: A statement from CEO Sam Monaghan

Skills for Care has released its latest report into the state of the adult social care sector and workforce in England, which shows some improvements being made in workforce capacity. This has been largely driven by an increase in international recruitment, with more posts being filled, fewer vacancies and less turnover. But there are still 152,000 vacancies in adult social care on any given day.

The State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England Report, released by Skills For Care on 12 October 2023, shares some positives for the sector - particularly with workforce capacity increasing over the past year.

However, it also identifies the ongoing trend of people leaving the social care profession. Better pay and working hours, alongside access to relevant training and qualifications, were identified as critical factors that would help to retain staff in the future.

That’s exactly the thinking behind our call for the funding and creation of a Social Care Council, as part of our Fix Care For All campaign. The Council would act as an independent body representing the 1.5 million people working in social care – examining pay scales, accreditation, training and recruitment, and investing more into changing public perceptions around what it means to choose care as a profession.

We will continue to support Skills For Care as it develops its workforce strategy to meet current recruitment and skills gaps, but with more people set to rely on social care in the next ten years and fewer people entering the workforce, the Government must do more to ensure people can feel the merits and rewards of a long-term career in care.

Please take a moment to sign our petition calling for a Social Care Council