Single voice urged in domiciliary sector

Domiciliary care needs a single national voice and a workforce
planning strategy if it is to gain a higher profile and solve its
recruitment and retention problems, according to a report published
this week.

The careers service project was commissioned by the Joint Advisory
Group of Domiciliary Care Organisations’ steering group which
looked at raising the sector’s profile.

Report author Kevin Devine says: “The image of domiciliary care is
a fragmented pattern of scattered information, haphazard employment
opportunities, unplanned recruitment, sporadic training and
depressed esteem.”

The report calls for a central, national voice to produce and
disseminate information under a unifying brand image and
name.

It also claims that the government “connives” in low pay through
local authority settlements which make the service uncompetitive
with other public services and also commercial bodies, including
supermarkets.

The report states:”The investment should not be seen as a one-off
injection; it should be a planned and extended process over time to
reap rewards.” 

– Report from lesley@initiatives.co.uk