A think tank has called for an ‘elevation in the status of care work’ in order to fix the social care workforce crisis.
A new report from Public Policy Projects sets out a number of measures aimed at improving staff recruitment and retention in the social care sector.
Among its key recommendations, the report argues that the Government invest in a positive advertising campaign to raise the profile of those working in care. It cites the boost in public sentiment towards nursing that followed Florence Nightingale’s work during the Crimean war, and stresses the need for a similar shift to take place for care work.
As part of this campaign, the report also recommends that care providers should be working with careers advisors in schools to promote care work to young people as an attractive and fulfilling career.
The think tank said that this ‘Nightingale shift’ would boost staff morale and help address recruitment and retention issues, provided it is accompanied by improvements to pay and conditions.
In his foreword to the report, the Conservative MP Damian Green commented: ‘There are many elements that go to make up the current crisis in social care, but all concerned with the sector agree that the size and stability of the workforce is one of the most acute problems. We need more care workers, we need them to stay longer in their jobs, and we need them to be better paid and more highly regarded.’
