We won’t solve the social care crisis unless we start valuing caring professions
We are in the grip of a social care crisis – the impacts are felt by all of us. Nothing will change until carers feel valued and respected.
As Wes Streeting faces questions from MPs today as part of the Health and Social Care Committee, The Lead takes a look at the ongoing care crisis the Health Secretary is facing, and why Labour must prioritise this sector…
In the UK, we have found ourselves in the uncomfortable and illogical position in which the roles of caring for our most vulnerable are some of the least valued, respected and profitable professions.
Caring for tiny babies in pre-school nurseries, caring for the elderly, caring for people with disabilities or terminal illnesses – these are some of the most important roles in a well functioning, empathetic and morally robust society. And the stakes couldn’t be higher: mistakes and failures in social care can have devastating, sometimes even fatal consequences. And yet people in these jobs are underpaid, overworked and chronically undervalued.
Care workers remain among the lowest paid in the UK and, like many, suffered real-terms pay cuts in 2022/23. On top of this, they are grappling with increased workloads, abuse in the workplace, and high stress levels. A majority of care workers have said they feel undervalued and neglected. TUC research in 2023 found that more than three in five childcare and social care workers earn less than the real living wage. As a result, recruiting and retaining staff is a constant battle.
The impact of this can’t be overstated. This week, the BBC revealed reports of harm to young children in nurseries almost tripled since 2010 – from 1,303 reported incidents between 2010-15, up to a shocking 3,342 between 2019-24. There were 5,795 reports or allegations of children being harmed by nursery staff over the last five years. These figures alone are enough to terrify parents of young children. But this coupled with the spiralling costs of early-years nurseries will leave many without childcare options.
That’s more parents who will be forced to leave the workforce, which means more families with shrinking household incomes, and more children being driven to live in poverty. The impact of inadequate social care spirals outwards in many directions, exponentially.
Nurseries are just one part of the problem. There are multiple crises across every branch of social care. 20 per cent of care homes are ‘substandard’ or failing. Many care providers are struggling to keep the lights on, and the industry is chronically understaffed. Hospices are unable to provide adequate end-of-life care and one in three are dying “in overwhelming pain”.
In January, Wes Streeting announced Labour’s first steps towards tackling the adult social care crisis – the National Care Service. The first phase of the commission, which will identify the critical issues facing the sector, is due to start this month, with the second phase – outlining longer-term recommendations – slated for completion by 2028.
It’s encouraging. Streeting has already announced an extra £86 million for the Disabled Facilities Grant this year to help more elderly or disabled people adapt their homes. Care workers will also be given guidance to perform routine health monitoring at home to reduce strain on GPs. But pay rises for care-workers will likely take much longer. And this policy is of course only focused on adult social care, so will provide little comfort to the parents facing sleepless nights over nursery safety concerns.
In any case, 2028 is still a long way off. There are thousands of people in care today, people who can’t pay for the care they need to live a dignified life, and they can’t afford to wait any longer.