Nearly one in five (18%) health and social care workers taking on agency work via a private provider expect to leave the sector in the next two years, according to research.

The survey carried out by recruitment and technology organisation the Acacium Group found that factors driving the desire to leave the sector include working conditions, and a lack of opportunities for progression. Almost a quarter (24%) of workers reported feeling overstretched by their workload.

The report ‘From insight to impact: Understanding and optimising the flexible health and social care workforce’ also raised questions about access to necessary tools. More than a quarter (27%) of agency workers were dissatisfied with their ability to access patient records. Nearly one in five (17%) also said they were unhappy with access to vital protective equipment. 

However 83% of professionals said they were satisfied with the overall working environment and 65% reported they were “extremely likely” to remain in the sector for the next two years.

Factors driving people to take on agency work included flexibility (34%), work-life balance (9%) and family commitments (8%).

The report is based on data collected over the last three years from 10,901 “flexible professionals”.

Mike Barnard, Acacium Group chief executive, said: “The health and social care system depends on flexible workers to deliver essential services. They stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their permanent colleagues and are sometimes one and the same, with many full-time employees also engaging in flexible work.”

He added: “With widespread challenges across the health and social care sector, we must all come together as one. We need to make sure this crucial part of the workforce is fully supported to deliver the care patients need.”