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News Care leaders react to new Care Workforce Pathway


Care sector leaders have reacted with cautious optimism to the government’s announcement of a new package of support for the domestic care workforce.


The plans include:


n The launch of the Care Workforce Pathway – a national career structure for the adult social care workforce.


n £50m of funding for up to 37,000 individuals in direct adult social care roles to enrol on the new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification.


n £20m for apprenticeships – local authorities and adult social care providers will be able to finance hundreds of new social work and nurse apprentices.


n Subsidised training places – an uplift to the Workforce Development Fund to expand access to learning and development.


n A new digital leadership qualification to equip social care leaders and managers with the confidence and capability to lead the implementation of technology in care delivery.


Professor Martin Green OBE, chief executive of Care England, said: “This package of measures, including the Care Workforce Pathway, is an


opportunity to be an asset to the sector and has the potential to make it a more attractive sector to work in. The value of enhancing our domestic workforce can’t be understated, particularly as we lost over 50,000 domestic workers last year which were replaced by 70,000 international recruits. This value has only become greater in light of the changes made by the Home Office to the international recruitment route late last year. “This package of support must be the


precedent the government sets for the year. The promise from this government to fix social care feels like a distant memory but this is a welcome reminder that this promise has not been forgotten. The impetus is now on the government to turn the tide and make good on their promise.” Professor Vic Rayner, CEO of the National Care Forum (NCF) commented: “Today’s announcements are important first steps in adult social care workforce reform and will be welcomed by providers who have paused progression routes and activities in anticipation of the arrival of the pathway. The news that additional funding will become available for training and development in the sector is also welcome, although


without details of what this will mean in practice it is difficult to determine impact. The commitment to train nearly 40,000 staff is a step up from the current position but represents under 10 per cent of all new starters in the sector, and of course none of these commitments come with any focus on moving us closer to a set of pay, terms and conditions that match the skills and expertise laid out in the new pathway. The role of a care worker is complex and skilled – and a pathway without an accompanying properly funded pay structure will do little to attract and retain people to progress through the career structure.


“There are over 17,000 organisations


delivering care and support across England – and it is vital that we have a workforce infrastructure that allows all organisations of all sizes to benefit from the changes outlined today. Social care delivers publicly funded services needed by millions of people each and every year. The government must make the strategic decision to ensure that it adequately funds the pay, terms and conditions of the workforce to ensure we have the care and support we need both now and in the future.”


Care England offers energy efficiency guidance


With energy prices remaining high, Care England has launched guidance for care providers looking to become more energy efficient.


With current winter temperatures, and the turbulent political climate both home and abroad, gas and energy prices remain volatile. This presents a challenging background for care providers to operate in. Sixty per cent of care providers cite utility bills as a key challenge –the second most cited cost pressure after workforce pay. Care England is responding to ensure care providers are able to alleviate some of their ongoing pressures.


In Care England’s new publication,


Savings, Solutions, and Sustainability, energy sector expert David Woodward, director at Focus Energy Services Ltd, explains what care providers can do to


energy usage and efficiency. Professor Martin Green OBE, chief


ensure they obtain the best value and most sustainable energy contracts. David also highlights what constitutes a good energy broker and offers tips to make businesses more energy efficient.


Care England has also created a free


Strategic Management Audit Repository Tool containing a dedicated ESG module outlining where care providers can work toward environmental targets, including a section on


executive of Care England, said: “Care providers are being put under unsustainable pressure this winter period, and many aren’t benefitting governmental financial. In response, Care England conducted an energy tender and lowered the cost of energy for 100% of care providers who participated. While we continue to deliver pragmatic solutions for adult social care providers, practical action is crucial to safeguard from future energy price spikes where possible via the Care England tender. “Recent events have taught us that


having our own solutions in place wherever possible is more important than ever; to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Energy is central not just to the wellbeing of people in receipt of care, but to a business itself.”


February 2024 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com


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