Systemic issues are a drag anchor on care
Many of the challenges that social care organisations experience result from systemic issues that have been present for many years, and that unfortunately continue to negatively impact on the sector and its workforce. These issues have been well-evidenced over the years and are primarily:
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Low rates of pay and poor working terms and conditions experienced by social care workers, that result in a lack of parity between the different social care sub-sectors and the NHS.
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Over regulation of social care that is not seen within health organisations, such as the requirement to obtain an SVQ (Scottish Vocational Qualification), often result in staff leaving social care organisations to take up posts within NHS boards where the qualification is not needed, and rates of pay are higher.
The need for regulation of social care is not disputed and all those working in the sector recognise and want the protections that are in place to safely support individuals who may be vulnerable.
Regulation reduces care
However, the amount of regulation that results in duplication of recording and reporting reduces the time care and support staff can spend delivering hands on care services. Also, unnecessary layers of referral increases the time an individual waits for essential health and social care interventions, which cannot be considered a good outcome for that person.
Recruitment requires a pathway
Another systemic problem is that there are still no clear pathways of recruitment into social care with most staff finding employment in the sector through word of mouth and social media.
This means that recruitment becomes increasingly challenging as potential staff are discouraged from working in social care due to the negative narrative that can be heard from both within, and surrounding the sector from media stories and representation.
Dependent on dedication
What is present in the sector is an unbelievable amount of commitment, professionalism and desire to delivery high quality care and support services, whether in care home settings or in care at home and housing support within communities.
The staff who remain working in social care are dedicated, skilled and experienced workers that demonstrate great leadership in their every working day.
This can be seen through the huge number of applications that Scottish Care have recently received from our members nominating their staff teams and colleagues for awards such as the Emerging Talent Award, the Care Worker of the Year Award and the Care Innovation Award.
Staff in social care continue to turn up, work flexibly and adapt to a constantly changing landscape and it is time they received the respect and are appropriately valued for the work they do.