Social care risks becoming 'tsunami of unmet need' if vacancies rise further, warns CQC

Care providers are facing a staffing crisis as recruitment and staff retention is fast becoming a "serious and deteriorating" situation with "increasing numbers" of people unable to access care, the care regulator has warned.

In its latest State of Care report, published today, the CQC warns social care staff are "exhausted and depleted" and while staffing is an issue for all sectors, the CQC is concerned with social care and warns other vacancies in hospitality, retail and travel could increase further as they speed up recruitment with offering incentives to new staff. These industries could also offer higher salaries than the care sector.

The CQC report reveals staff vacancy rates in care homes have increased from six per cent in April 2021 to just over 10 per cent in September 2021.

Ian Trenholm, chief executive of CQC says: “We’re seeing rising vacancy rates with some providers having to hand back their registrations as they don’t have enough staff to deliver care, and examples of quality suffering due to lack of staff.

“This will lead to reduced capacity and choice, and poorer quality care for the people who rely on social care, resulting in a ripple effect across the wider health and care system that risks becoming a tsunami of unmet need across all sectors, with increasing numbers of people unable to access care.

"If nothing changes, social care will continue to lose staff to other sectors, outside of health and social care."

Mr Trenholm called for urgent government funding to recruit and retain more staff, training for all social care staff, higher levels of pay and good terms and conditions to “attract and retain” the right people.

'Without further action, a bleak winter lies ahead'

Yesterday, the government announced that care homes and home care providers will benefit from a new £162.5 million workforce retention and recruitment fund to bolster the dedicated care workforce.

This is on top of the Health and Social Care Levy of £5.4bn which includes £500 million for staff retention and training.

The National Care Forum (NCF) says the £162.5 million additional funding is a “drop in the ocean” of what is needed to address these challenges.

Vic Rayner, chief executive of NCF said: “Many of the actions they are calling for echo the stark messages that we have been giving for several months now – the urgent need for action to support the workforce with a retention bonus and an immediate pay increase, along with care workers being included in the Shortage Occupation List.”

Cathie Williams, ADASS chief executive said: “The government's announcement of a further short-term injection of funding for workforce is welcome but a small proportion of what is needed and very late in the day given the worsening recruitment and retention situation. “One-off Covid funding has ensured the short-term, but not the long-term viability of struggling providers.

“Without further action, a bleak winter lies ahead.”

'We must invest to ensure there are enough care workers to meet needs'

Workforce data from Skills for Care also shows that vacancy rates are increasing. Vacancy rates were highest for home care services at 11.3 per cent and for registered nurses at over 13 per cent.

Regionally, London has the highest vacancy rate at 11 per cent with the North West having the lowest vacancy rate at 6.5 per cent.

Skills for Care chief executive Oonagh Smyth said: “CQC has rightly focused this year’s State of Care report on the challenges facing social care, including the unprecedented pressures on our workforce.

“We particularly welcome CQC’s recognition of the interdependency of health and care services, and their call for greater collaboration across services utilising the skills of a stable social care workforce. As social care goes through a period of reform, we must use this evidence to ensure any changes value our workforce, and the difference they make to the lives of people.”

The Homecare Association said while it was pleased the CQC recognises the risk of unmet needs in adult social care, home care demand is rising, but many providers are having to turn down new requests for help due to issues over recruiting and retaining staff as well as years of “inadequate government funding”.

Dr Jane Townson, chief executive for Homecare Association said: “We must invest to ensure there are enough care workers to meet needs, so older and disabled people can live well at home, surrounded by those they love, and connected to their communities.”

“We continue to call on the government to use the Spending Review to invest adequately in home care [and] ensure homecare workers are paid fairly and on a par with equivalent public sector roles. The Health and Social Care Levy is a start but is nowhere near enough to address underlying workforce issues.”

Dr Rhidian Hughes, chief executive of the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) said: “Beyond the quick fix of £162.5 million, we are planning for a very difficult and challenging winter period.

"Voluntary sector disability provision is distinct because of its reliance on state funding and unlike other industries such as retail and hospitality, our members are unable to increase fees to cover for increased pay that we all want to see.”

'Care workers need better reasons to stay in the job when retail and hospitality offer more pay'

The CQC report also shows staff sickness rates doubled from 2.6 per cent before the pandemic to five per cent between March 2020 and June 2021.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK said the extra pressures of the last eighteen months has made “workers and managers tired” and an increase in the “backlog of people in need of care.”

Ms Abrahams said: “One of the consequences is older people are getting stuck in hospital again when they are medically fit to be discharged, simply because there is not enough care to support them when they get home.

“This is deeply ominous for the NHS, with the worst of winter yet to come.

“Care workers need better reasons to stay in the job when retail and hospitality now offer much more attractive pay and conditions.”

To read the full report click here