Adult social care leaders have come together to publish a collective vision of what should be in a workforce strategy for the sector.
The leaders of Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, Care Provider Alliance, Care and Support Alliance, Local Government Association, Skills for Care, Social Care Institute for Excellence and Think Local Act Personal argue a strategy for the 1.5m strong workforce must be driven by a shared vision.
In their Vision for a future workforce strategy paper, the organisations say clear priorities that must be included in a national workforce strategy/people plan for adult social care include:
1. Staff recognition, value and rewarded.
2. Investment in training, qualification and support.
3. Career pathways and development.
4. Building and enhancing social justice, equality, diversity and inclusion in the workforce.
5. Effective workforce planning across the whole social care workforce.
6. Expansion of the workforce in roles which enable prevention and support the growth of innovative models of support.
Care Provider Alliance chairwoman Kathy Roberts said: “We believe that this sector-led plan articulates what we need now to ensure a consistent and fair approach to workforce planning across all care and support services.
“We are calling on all parties including central and local policymakers, commissioners, educators and regulators to work with us to develop and deliver a long-term workforce strategy that will support our staff, and ultimately the people who draw on our services and their families.”
Skills for Care chief executive Oonagh Smyth added: “We believe that policies to reform adult social care will not be successful unless they address the needs of the workforce who have played such a critical role during the pandemic through a social care people plan and comprehensive workforce planning, underpinned by quality data and an understanding of our workforce now and in the future."
