Britain is facing a shortage of 350,000 social care workers needed to meet international staffing standards for elderly care. The GMB union has raised concerns about staff deficits, attributing them to a lack of formal social care, which has led people to leave their jobs. The number of individuals providing over 35 hours of unpaid care weekly has surged by 70%, with middle-aged women increasingly stepping in to care for family members.
Unlike the UK, countries like Japan and Finland mandate a ratio of three service users per employed carer. To achieve this ratio, Britain would require more than 350,000 additional carers. GMB is set to propose a motion at the Labour Party Conference to advocate for legally binding safe staffing levels in care facilities.
Jo Pitchford, GMB Bolton Care Branch Secretary, emphasized the pressing care crisis in the UK, citing a vacancy gap of over 131,000 care workers and low wages. The Mirror’s Fair Care for All campaign advocates for adequately staffed and funded social care, urging the establishment of a “National Care Service.” However, the government’s plans for this service have been delayed pending a national review.
Data from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation reveals a significant rise in full-time unpaid carers in England, coupled with a surge in applications for formal social care support. Despite the increase in demand, there has been a minimal rise in individuals receiving formal support. Skills for Care reported 335,759 full-time equivalent care workers in English care homes last year, estimating a need for an additional 252,000 workers to meet the desired 3:1 ratio.
Addressing Labour delegates, Ms. Pitchford stressed the need for more care workers to reach the staffing levels seen in other countries, emphasizing the necessity to improve care worker wages. The Fair Care for All campaign calls for equitable treatment of older individuals, proposing the creation of a dedicated national care service and fair compensation for care workers.
Labour initiated the Casey Review to address long-standing issues in adult social care, with the first phase focusing on short-term changes within existing resources. The government’s delay in fundamental social care reforms has drawn criticism, with the review’s implementation potentially hinging on Labour’s reelection for a second term.