Care overview
being more progressive than others in their approach to care, differing financial models often present insurmountable challenges related to everything from staff wages to the quality of care provided. However, this clear divide on investment in care does reflect how well equipped each country is to handle the pressures.
Staff shortages are rife At a time when the need for care services is increasing, there are more than 100,000 job vacancies open within the UK care sector, and staff turnover is estimated to be 30 per cent and on the rise. This trend is reflected throughout Europe, with low wages, lack of recognition, and stressful working conditions being the largest contributors to this growing issue. Our research found this has been exacerbated by the pandemic, with four out of ten respondents experiencing negative changes to staff retention and recruitment during the past two years. Forum participants commented that care professionals were working long hours, which caused burnout and stress, and as pressures mounted, some staff stayed to give their support through the pandemic but then left to go into other careers. Eighty one per cent of survey respondents claim staff shortages and recruitment are moderately to extremely challenging – a situation that is not likely to ease in the short to medium term unless significant changes are made to the way the care sector is viewed. Managers in the forum identified this as a key area to focus on to help achieve
long term operational success. While there needs to be more funding
and investment to support recruitment, there is also work to be done in changing the reputation of the industry. One of the crucial areas to tackle is the perception of the industry before people even begin their career in care. Working in care is a very challenging but immensely rewarding career that many carers actually describe as a vocation rather than a job. Unfortunately, there is a lack of awareness around the careers within the sector and it is not always given the value it deserves. On the other hand, when people enter the profession,
many often leave within less than a year, with turnover rates for younger workers rising as high as 50 per cent. Sadly, nine out of ten survey respondents
believe that COVID-19 had little impact on the perception of care workers, though it has certainly created more public awareness around the importance of care, its people, and what they do. To help retain more workers, the profession needs to become a more attractive option for employment. Aside from increased pay and better benefits, this could include more opportunities for career development and training, providing more professional autonomy, and ensuring a quality of care is delivered, as this can be an important factor in helping workers stay in their jobs. Countries such as Sweden offer a degree in nursing so carers can be better paid, whereas other countries are trying to target specific groups to plug the gap. For example, Germany has tried to encourage more men into the sector and Finland is targeting those who are unemployed to help care for older people in their homes.
The issue of changing the perception of the carer needs to be given careful consideration and focus in order to attract talent into the industry, retain staff, and create sustainable care systems fit for an ageing population.
Burdens of bureaucracy Infection prevention has always been important in health and social care settings. However, the pandemic put hygiene protocols under the spotlight, forcing care
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www.thecarehomeenvironment.com April 2023
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