Care homes face retention problems

Despite some improvements, care homes are still experiencing turnover rates of 25 per cent this year, according to research from the National Care Forum.

Forty-five per cent of all staff (including those who don’t show up to start work) leave within the first year and nearly two-thirds within 2 years.

The report says that such a high turnover represents a considerable loss including the “costs associated with recruitment, selection, induction and initial training”. The report added that such a loss of staff was a major concern for providers.

Of the organisations that supplied data, the biggest reason given for leaving was “other” with “personal” given by 15 per cent and then “dismissal” (8 per cent), pay and career development at just above 7 per cent. The report called for more research on reasons giving for leaving.

Nine out of 10 care home managers were qualified to NVQ four and other qualification for other awards such as NVQ two were improving throughout the period of the study and now account for 60 per cent of staff.

The report found that vacancy rates averaged at just over 10 per cent, which was very similar to 2005.

The research covered 29 agencies employing nearly 40,000 staff with half employing more than a 1,000 each and three-quarters employing more than 500.

• Personal statistics 2006 from the National Care Forum