Government launches consultation to address workforce challenges in adult social care sector

Consultation response will inform adult social care green paper due in summer 2018

By Katherine Purvis

The Department of Health and Social Care is seeking views and evidence on addressing workforce challenges in the adult social care sector.

In a consultation launched in partnership with Skills for Care, the department is asking anyone with an interest in adult social care to respond to a six-question survey, which will focus on:

  • attracting and recruiting workers into the sector;
  • improving retention;
  • improving professional development;
  • how to consider the role of regulation; and
  • ensuring effective workforce planning.

Green paper

Responses to the survey will inform the forthcoming adult social care green paper, focusing on care and support for older people, as well as a joint health and social care workforce strategy, also expected to be published this summer.

The consultation is linked to that launched by Health Education England last December as it published its draft health and care workforce strategy for England up to 2027.

“The social care workforce is the backbone of the care sector,” said Caroline Dinenage, minister of state for care.

We know there are challenges – that’s why we need to ensure the workforce is supported to enable the transformation needed to deliver the best quality of care into the future.”

The consultation is open for responses until 9 April 2018.

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4 Responses to Government launches consultation to address workforce challenges in adult social care sector

  1. Maharg February 23, 2018 at 1:36 pm #

    Is nice to see the art of asking contrived questions with predicted answers to justify the consultation is not dead. And I suggest the person who worked out that there were six questions needs to go we count them.

  2. Paul Collins February 25, 2018 at 9:13 am #

    I thought the National Audit Office had already made us all aware of the shortcomings in this sector!

  3. Dave February 26, 2018 at 12:03 pm #

    I was so angry by q2 I had to stop. It’s what do we think of every possible measure except “start paying them enough”.

  4. Ju March 21, 2018 at 2:01 am #

    When there are shop workers on tills earning more then care workers some are paid over £8-9 ph it’s not right I work waking nights and get the minimum wage