“The Spending Review and forthcoming white paper must set out how immediate and short-term pressures in social care will be addressed, involving councils, care workers and those with lived experience, if we are to build back better and develop a care and support system fit for the future.”
Responding to the Care Quality Commission’s annual State of Care report, Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:
“Our incredible social care workforce has made an enormous contribution throughout the pandemic to provide vital care and support, despite facing immense challenges.
“As this important report states, our care staff are depleted in number, leaving those remaining exhausted and working at maximum capacity. Losing them to other roles elsewhere will just compound problems for already overstretched services, which is likely to lead to even greater levels of unmet need. All of this will impact on the ability of people of all ages who draw on care and support, to live the life they want to lead.
“Urgent action is needed as we approach winter to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis, including on staff pay, conditions, skills, training and development.
“The Spending Review and forthcoming white paper must set out how immediate and short-term pressures in social care will be addressed, involving councils, care workers and those with lived experience, if we are to build back better and develop a care and support system fit for the future.”