Care group reinforces the importance of 'valuing the care sector'

is highlighting the unsung heroes of social care who often go the extra mile to ensure the service continues for older people, the vulnerable and seriously ill.

The care group believes employees in the social care sector are working in an industry which is increasingly underfunded and undervalued.

Donna Briggs, managing director of Springhill Care, said: "Very often these committed, kind and caring individuals are the only people a vulnerable person may see from one day to the next.

"There is also the support they provide for families and friends of the people they care for as they help them to cope with the illness or disability their loved one is battling day in day out.

"It is important that we as an industry value the care sector and its 1.48 million employees who are committed to making life better for vulnerable people each and every day. Some even believe social care is more of a domestic service."

Previous research has suggested that low staff morale and high levels of stress can have a negative impact on patient experience and the quality of care in health care organisations.

In addition, more than one million older people are left to struggle each day without any support, a figure which is steadily increasing across the country.

With squeezed funding, the pressures on care providers has intensified, making it more difficult for them to recruit and retain care staff.

With this in mind, Ms Briggs believes that investing in employees is fundamental. She added: "The challenges faced in the health and social care sector and the need to deliver specialised and complex support means training and staff development has never been more important.

"We firmly believe that investing in our employees who make all this possible through training and development is the key to successfully delivering a quality care and support service."

The group is inviting those with an interest in the issue to join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #caringheroes.

Springhill Care Group provides high quality nursing, residential, rehabilitation, dementia, day care and supported living services for adults across its network in Accrington and Skelmersdale in Lancashire and Bristol.