William Eichler 20 October 2023

Council chiefs call for workforce plan after ‘unfair care’ warning

Council chiefs call for workforce plan after ‘unfair care’ warning  image
Image: Chinnapong / Shutterstock.com.

Local authority leaders have repeated their call for a dedicated social care workforce plan in response to a warning from the Care Quality Commission that councils are struggling to meet rising demand.

The CQC’s annual assessment of the state of health and adult social care in England found that new requests for adult social care support had risen by 3% between 2020/21 and 2021/22, reaching almost two million.

However, of the requests made for services, 568,685 did not result in additional support, an increase of over 4%.

A further 522,850 received only universal services or were advised to contact non-council services, such as the voluntary sector, an increase of 2% on the previous year.

The CQC warned that the increased pressures on the health and social care system risks ‘unfair care’, with longer waits, reduced access and poorer outcomes for some.

Ian Trenholm, CQC’s chief executive, said a national workforce strategy was needed to raise the status of the adult social care workforce.

Responding to the report, Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Community Wellbeing Board, said: ‘As this important report highlights yet again, social care needs a dedicated workforce plan to address the recruitment and retention crisis, especially as we approach winter, including action on staff pay, conditions, skills, training, and development.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Part Time Finance Administrator

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Finance AdministratorPermanent, Part Time£25,081 per annum, full time equivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Customer Services Adviser (Housing Repairs

Mansfield District Council
£28,598 - £33,699 per annum
Mansfield is a town of towns at the centre of things in Nottinghamshire - a place of many strong connections Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

No Wrong Door Deputy Manager

North Yorkshire Council
From £47,181 up to £51,356 per annum pro rata
We’re looking for a passionate, driven, and dynamic professional to join our management team within our innovative No Wrong Door (NWD) service. Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Senior Resource Centre Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£34,434 - £38,220 per annum pro rata
You will work closely with families and other professionals to ensure that you have sound knowledge of the children you are caring for Morton on Swale, Northallerton
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Social Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£38,220 - £42,839 per annum, pro rata
Our Family Assessment and Support Teams you will work with a range of children and their families, carers and networks. Selby, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council
Linkedin Banner