Lack of Financial Recognition “Disgraceful”, says CAA Co-Chair

A “disgraceful lack of financial recognition and reward” for workers in adult social care is prolonging the recruitment crisis in the sector, according to the Co-Chair of the Care Association Alliance.

Welcoming the State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England report published today (10^th October) by Skills for Care, Melanie Weatherley MBE said the incoming Labour government needs to tackle the issue of low pay and lack of recognition for care workers.

The report shows that the care sector faces ongoing domestic recruitment and retention challenges, although international recruitment drove improvements in the adult social care workforce in the year to March 2024.

The State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England report published today (10^th October) shows that the workforce grew to 1.71 million filled posts while vacancies fell to 131,000 on any given day for the second successive year.

Just under a quarter of people working in care (24.2%) left their jobs in 2023/24, and among independent and local authority employers the turnover rate fell to below 1 in 4 (24.8%) for the first time since 2014/15, down from 29.1% the previous year.

However, the report confirms that these positive trends are mainly due to the record level of international recruitment in 2023/24, and it says the sector is still struggling with domestic recruitment and retention.

“This is an important report which shines more light on the recruitment challenges that the adult social care sector is facing today,” said Melanie Weatherley MBE, Co-Chair of the Care Association Alliance.

“The social care sector in this country continues to experience significant workforce challenges, and without our international recruits it is unclear how we could have continued to enable individuals to live their best lives and to support our NHS colleagues.

“At the root of the problem is a disgraceful lack of financial recognition and reward for the skilled work that care staff do, and this issue should be at the top of the to-do list of the new Labour government.”

In 2023/4 105,000 international recruits started working as care providers in the independent sector, while the number of UK nationals in the workforce shrank by 30,000. Over the two years since March 2022, 185,000 international recruits joined the workforce and the number of UK workers fell by 70,000.

The report shows that the supply of international workers is declining, which makes the challenge of recruiting domestic care workers even more pressing.

An estimated 8,000 new international recruits started work between April and June 2024, compared with an average of 26,000 per quarter in the year to March – a decrease of over two-thirds.

To arrange an interview with Melanie Weatherley MBE, please contact Jez Ashberry at Shooting Star by calling 07780 735071 or by emailing jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk.

Notes to editors:

The Care Association Alliance brings together more than 50 local care associations, representing over 7,000 care providers across the breadth of adult social care provision. We are the national voice of local care provision.

Visit their website: https://www.caa.care/.

You can read the State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England report here

For media information contact:

Jez Ashberry

Director

Shooting Star

01522 528540 / 07780 735071

jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk

[CAA01skillsforcarereport]

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National Insurance Increases

12 April 2025

The government’s increase in the rate of employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) from 13.8% to 15% came into effect at the weekend. As a result, the care sector, like many others, is facing detrimental financial pressures in trying to provide a high-quality care service. Our overall staff costs are projected to rise by at least 9%, thanks to the number of part-time staff we have and the low level of pay in the sector. We provide a regulated service based very heavily on personal interaction, so we can’t simply reduce staffing levels. Many care workers are at or close to minimum wage, so there’s no way to mitigate the increases by negotiating a lower pay rise. Providers would love the opportunity to pay their staff more, as they deserve it, but it simply cannot be budgeted for. These cost increases impact both self-funders and services contracted by local authorities or the NHS. For those paying for their own care this is leading to higher than normal price increases of 8% to 10%. This may be an unmanageable burden for some. Where the local authority or the NHS is the customer, we have no control over prices and the vast majority are unwilling or unable to cover the increased costs. The UK government has chosen not to provide local authorities with sufficient funds to cover the NIC increases for care that they commission – although they have where the care is provided in house. As a result, care providers who deliver care to the most vulnerable on behalf of local authorities are facing potentially existential challenges. The Care Association Alliance is urging the government to fix these funding shortfalls so that local authorities can properly support care providers. We urge HM Treasury to redress the unfairness and ensure that local authorities are able to support providers, and we call on the Department for Health and Social Care and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government ensure that this funding is passed on.

CAA Statement regarding the Employers National Insurance Contribution amendment

20 March 2025

We at the Care Association Alliance are deeply disappointed by the actions of Labour MPs in the House of Commons yesterday (19 th March). A Liberal Democrat amendment to exempt health and care providers from a rise in National insurance Contributions was defeated by 307 votes to 182. As a result, on 6th April hard-pressed social care providers will be hit with increased bills they can’t afford. This vote is another damaging blow to our sector which could well leave many people without the care and support services they rely on, as it will push many care providers over the brink. The government has dismantled the core principles and ethos of the Care Act 2014 and abandoned millions of vulnerable people who depend on the care sector. The impact will also be felt by the NHS, which will experience even more difficulties in discharging patients from hospital. This is a dark day for adult social care, and we call on the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to think again and exempt health and care providers from this NIC increase. In the meantime care associations are ready to work with local authorities, care providers and NHS colleagues to do the best we can for those who rely on care and support in what will be very difficult times. Melanie Weatherley MBE, C0-Chair of the Care Association Alliance For media information please contact: Jez Ashberry Director Shooting Star jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk 01522 528540 / 07780 735071