The Leaders Council recently held a series of roundtable discussions with leaders from the care sector to address the ongoing challenges and pressures they face in their profession. The discussion brought together representatives from the public, private, and political sectors to share their on-the-ground experiences and offer unvarnished insights. The purpose of the roundtable was to build connections, provide support, and recommend solutions to parliamentarians in order to improve the industry.
Care work is an essential and skilled profession that is vital to the well-being of our society, yet it is often undervalued and underfunded. At a recent meeting, several key issues were raised in regards to the care sector and how it can be improved.
One major point was that care work should be recognized as a skilled profession. To label it as "unskilled" is demeaning and inaccurate, as it requires a high level of knowledge, compassion, and dedication to properly care for others. In order to give care workers the recognition and respect they deserve, the sector needs more funding to enable them to be paid commensurately for their hard work.
Another important issue that was raised was the need for better recruitment and retention within the care sector. National recruitment campaigns should be as prominent and persuasive as those for education and the NHS, and progression opportunities within the sector should be better communicated to potential care workers. By offering benefits such as free travel and better working conditions, we can attract and retain more high-quality care workers.
There was also a call for better integration and coordination within the care sector, perhaps through the creation of a single oversight body responsible for the sector. Boroughs such as Islington have demonstrated that care homes can successfully collaborate with the NHS, and it is important that parliamentarians learn from this example and work towards better integration of care services.
One key point that was emphasized was the need for increased funding for the care sector. This not only helps to ensure that care workers are paid fairly, but it can also save money in the long run. By providing timely and high-quality care, we can keep individuals out of hospital and prevent greater costs down the line. It is important to look at the bigger picture and not just individual budgets, as a poorly funded care sector is a burden that our society can no longer afford.
Other issues that were raised at the meeting included widespread disillusionment with the media for its negative portrayal of the care sector and the feeling that it is often seen as less important than the NHS. There was also criticism of the CQC's lack of communication regarding its inspections. It is clear that there is much work to be done in order to improve and support the care sector, and it is crucial that we take these issues seriously and work towards finding solutions.
