Health Management and Policy Alert

Who cares? The experience of social care workers, and the enforcement of employment rights in the sector

Resolution Foundation - 

This report finds that social care workers have higher levels of job satisfaction and stronger job attachment than those in other low-paying sectors, but many have to contend with unsafe working conditions and unlawful under-payment of the minimum wage. This report combines new statistical analysis with findings from a series of focus groups with frontline social care workers, to shine a light on the nature of the jobs they do, the challenges they face, and the priorities for improvement.

• Report
• Press release

Care and support reimagined: a national care covenant for England

Archbishops’ Commission on Reimagining Care - 

This report sets out three actions to realise a new vision for care and support: rethinking attitudes to care and support; rebalancing roles and responsibilities; and redesigning the social care system. The Commission, which was launched by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York in April 2021, calls for a National Care Covenant, developed through national dialogue, which sets out the roles and responsibilities of government, communities, families and individuals. Key elements of the covenant proposed by the Commission are: investment in communities; a stronger role for the state; a new deal for unpaid carers; and a commitment to our responsibilities as actively engaged citizens.

• Report
• Press release

 

State of health visiting, UK survey report: a vital safety net under pressure

Institute of Health Visiting -
This report details the findings from a UK survey of frontline health visitors working with families across the United Kingdom. It finds health visitors reporting epidemic levels of poverty, with more parents struggling with the cost-of-living crisis that is forcing them to turn to food banks to feed their children. Alongside this, more parents are living with mental health problems, domestic abuse and adversity, that pose risks to the health and wellbeing of babies and young children. The report makes various policy recommendations including a shift towards prevention and early intervention, equity of access to support and integrated clinical care pathways.

• Report
• Institute of Health Visiting - news

Our support for adult social care this winter

Department of Health and Social Care - 

This document sets out how the Department of Health and Social Care is supporting the adult social care sector during winter 2022 to 2023. It is aimed at care providers, local authorities, integrated care systems, carers and social care staff.

• Policy paper
• Press release

Technology in social care: spotlight on the English policy landscape, 2019-2022

Centre for Care - 

This paper explores policy developments relevant to care and technologies between 2019 and 2022, analysing recent changes to funding structures, strategic priorities and government organisations.

• Working paper
• More detail

Unfair to care: understanding the social care 2022—23 pay gap and how to close it

Community Integrated Care - 

This report finds that social care workers would need a 41 per cent pay rise – equalling £8,036 – to have parity with their direct equivalents within the NHS – Band 3 Healthcare Assistants. It demonstrates that modern frontline social care requires complex technical and emotional skills, to effectively support people who commonly have complex medical and behavioural needs, proving that social care is significantly undervalued. With the cost-of-living crisis meaning that many people are no longer able to accept a job that is vocationally rewarding for significantly less pay than they could immediately command elsewhere, the sector is facing an unprecedented talent drain resulting in 165,000 vacancies on any given day.

• Report
• Press release

A “gloriously ordinary life’’: spotlight on adult social care

House of Lords Adult Social Care Committee -
This report warns that the continued invisibility of the adult social care sector as a whole is increasingly damaging to both those who draw on care and who provide unpaid care at a time of increasing need, rising costs and a shrinking workforce. It calls on the Government to commit to a more positive and resilient approach to adult social care, as well as greater choice and control for disabled adults and older people and a better deal for unpaid carers.

• Report
• House of Lords Adult Social Care Committee - news

What next for strengths-based areas?

Social Care Institute for Excellence - 
Strengths and asset-based approaches in social care focus on what individuals and communities have and how they can work together, rather than on what individuals don’t have or can’t do. This paper discusses the key features of a strengths-based area and encourages the reader to think about where they are in relation to these features. Please note that free registration is required to access this report.

• Social Care Institute for Excellence - publications

 

Strengths-based approach for council services supporting adult social care

Social Care Institute for Excellence -
This resource aims to support council services supporting adult social care to understand what a strengths-based approach is, what it means to their role and how to ensure their practice is strengths-based. Please note that free registration is required to access this resource.

• Social Care Institute for Excellence - resources

Adult Social Care Discharge Fund: local authority and Integrated Care Board allocations

Department of Health and Social Care -
These documents set out the funding allocations for the £500 million Adult Social Care Discharge Fund. Of the funding 40 per cent (£200 million) will be distributed to local authorities and 60 per cent (£300 million) to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). Local authorities and ICBs will work together to plan how to spend the money locally.

• Guidance
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications