A new report has highlighted the urgent need to bring young, skilled workers into social care.

The Sector Spotlight report is part of a new series by the educational charity and leader in technical and vocational learning, NCFE, and includes contributions by Oonagh Smyth, chief executive of Skills for Care, Craig Wade, head of provider development at NCFE, and Stephen Mordue, former social worker and now lecturer in social work at the University of Sunderland.     

Smyth said: “We need to support the recruitment and retention of workers, including underrepresented groups like young people and men, and create cultures where learning starts on day one of the role and is built into what is expected of every care worker.  

“Reducing the number of vacancies in a service will help employers to release existing staff to take on training and development opportunities. As well as making sure quality of care isn’t impacted, research tells us that the more investment employers make in the learning and development of their staff, the better the quality of care and support provided, and that in turn can be a factor in the inspection outcomes for a service.” 

The Sector Spotlight goes on to identify two further areas of focus: raising the profile of social care as a highly skilled sector; and ensuring professional development is both clear and accessible once people enter the workforce.

NCFE identifies three areas of focus drawn from the data and expert views in the report: 

• Recognition and retention – more could be done to raise the profile of social care to parity with the health sector. It’s also important to give employers the confidence to invest in their staff, both in terms of time and training, so the sector does not get left behind when it comes to emerging skills, particularly digital skills
• Professional and career development – development within the social care sector is too often unclear and at worst, unavailable. Even when employers are more willing to invest in their staff, all too often there are many barriers to overcome. Accessing professional and career development needs to be clear and as straightforward as possible
• Recruiting a younger workforce – over time, an ageing and eventually retiring workforce without younger recruits will only serve to compound and exacerbate existing challenges. Action is needed to ensure that those who want to pursue a career in the sector can access a course that is right for them.