‘Seize the change to build care sector Britain deserves’

That is why we should all be concerned about the staff shortages the care sector is facing, and the pressure that is putting on the remainder of the workforce. Carers and nurses are leaving the sector in droves for work in retail and other areas, in search of better pay.The Government has promised to make care central to its platform but finding ways to support this essential sector will be a major test for the new Cabinet.However, with innovative thinking there is an opportunity to improve conditions for these essential workers, make long-needed structural reforms, and embrace technology and innovation to emerge from this crisis stronger than before. Fundamentally the understaffing problem is a matter of recruitment.Our research has found that over a quarter of care workers surveyed say they are likely to leave the sector in the next 12 months. Though care workers are passionate and love what they do, understaffing creates increased strain which pushes many to breaking point.This has created a vicious cycle, which can only be stopped by boosting recruitment and incentivising new workers. We should all be concerned about the staff shortages the care sector is facing (Image: GETTY)Clearly one of the main issues is that wages have failed to track the rising cost of living. Our YouGov State of the Care Sector survey has revealed that pay is the last reason people enter the sector, rather carers are driven by a desire to help people and a sense of duty, and it is the first reason they leave.Newcross Healthcare is proud to be accredited by the Living Wage Foundation paying an average of 16.4 per cent more than the Government national living wage. Far too many care workers are struggling to make ends meet, missing meals or unable to put petrol in their cars to drive to work.Guaranteeing a Real Living Wage (£10.90 for national and £11.95 in London) based on what people need to live, as opposed to the current government minimum wage (£9.18 age 21-22 and £9.50 age 23+) for all care professionals, would be a strong first step.This would mean full-time workers stand to earn £2,730 per year more than those on the minimum – a vital difference in a time of rising costs. Our survey shows a majority of the public support increasing funding for the care sector, even if it means paying more tax.While better pay is the first step, there are larger, structural reforms that the industry must undertake to emerge from this crisis stronger. The first is to improve recruitment and retention. Of people who would consider care work, 67 per cent don’t know how to find a job or what qualifications they would need.We must illuminate avenues into care work and make sure recruits are offered proper training and progression. Flexibility is also key; 41 per cent of prospects say that long, inflexible hours put them off.To fill the recruitment gap, we need a model that provides stable and consistent employment while accommodating those who have to juggle shifts with other commitments. In 2020 we launched our HealthForceGo app as a one-stop destination to match providers and patients to the care workers they need.Embracing technology and innovation also helps upskill care workers as their role expands. Increasingly, care workers are the first line of defence for Britain’s vulnerable, taking on some of the functions of nurses while nurses take on some of the roles of GPs.This is a necessary change as the NHS and care sectors work symbiotically to ensure the nation’s health. Delivering high quality, immersive and accessible training is essential to meeting patients’ needs and providing a clear route for workers to progress in their careers.We also need to look at where care takes place. Too often the Government uses figures about numbers of hospitals built as a barometer for the success of this country’s health but buildings don’t treat people.As the role of carers expands, there is a strong appetite for care to move out of institutions and into people’s homes. Studies have shown that patients do better in a setting that is comfortable and familiar, and the majority of carers now believe that home care is more effective than hospital care.Though the challenges posed by the cost-of-living and recruitment crises are significant, there is an opportunity to support these vital workers and create an effective, thoroughly modern care sector. By thinking clearly and realistically about the challenges, government and industry can work together to build the care sector Britain deserves.Stephen Pattrick is CEO and founder of Newcross Healthcare