Too many employees leaving the care sector

Although poised to bring a historic Care Act into force, politicians and healthcare professionals are being warned that the UK’s care sector faces a potential ageing workforce crisis that is already having an impact on the performance of services.

These concerns are highlighted in the National Care Forum’s (NCF) annual survey of staffing, published today, which finds that while 47.9 per cent of care staff are aged 45+ a worryingly small 12 per cent are aged under 25 years of age.

NCF executive director Des Kelly explores the connotations, commenting: “This is our 11th consecutive annual survey of staffing which maps trends in the care sector workforce. It is a huge database with a wealth of information.

“Turnover rates continue to average close to 20 per cent although some improvement seems to have occurred. However,” he continues, “the most worrying finding in the whole report is the ‘churn’ rate, which is up for the third consecutive year, with 38.8 per cent of staff leaving within one year of appointment and 65.5 per cent within two years.

“In home care services the figures are even higher with 47.4 per cent leaving within one year and a staggering 73.5 per cent within two years. Only in day care services (where the numbers are less) do the churn rates fall to a reasonable level. Arguably the care sector needs to be able to improve on these retention rates to be able to sustain quality and achieve efficiencies.”

Calling for a period of reflection within the care sector and government, Mr Kelly highlights the importance of making sure this data trend does not continue.

On recruitment issues he says, “Of most interest is where staff go and why. It is evident from our survey that this information remains elusive to employers and there are very few clues as to the reasons for leaving. It is our view that there is not one thing that makes the difference but rather the cumulative effects that create a feeling of not being valued.

“If the care sector is to be in the best shape to cope with the reforming intent of the Care Act 2014 and be fit for the future it is imperative that providers address these challenges and build on the positive improvements seen in qualification rates.”

The NCF’s annual survey drew on data from 58 member organisations that cover 64,805 employees.