Union leaders call for urgent meeting with government to discuss the “workforce crisis” in social care

• The heads of the TUC, GMB, UNISON and Unite issue joint warning over pay and conditions in the sector
• Unions warn “there is no serious plan” to address staffing shortages
• Government decision to halve social care workforce funding is a “huge step backwards”

The TUC and the leaders of the largest unions representing social care staff – UNISON, GMB and Unite – have today (Wednesday) called for an urgent and “critical” meeting with ministers to discuss the workforce crisis in social care.

The call comes after the government announced on Tuesday that it was halving its planned funding for the social care workforce.

In a joint letter to the care minister Helen Whately, the unions warn “there is no serious plan in place to” address the staffing shortages in social care and describe the decision to reduce funding as a “huge step backwards”.

The union leaders say:

“This week’s announcement by the Department of Health and Social Care is a huge step backwards. The training and development fund has been halved from the £500m pledged to £250m.

“Investment to support health and wellbeing among the social care workforce is nowhere to be seen. And with no sign of the long-awaited workforce strategy, there is no serious plan in place to address the social care staffing crisis for the long-term.”

Highlighting the failure to improve working conditions in social care the unions say:

“Staffing is the single biggest challenge facing adult social care. The disproportionately female, BME social care workforce delivers an essential public service. Yet ever-worsening pay and conditions combined with low morale have contributed to a recruitment and retention crisis.

“Four out of ten care workers earn less than real living wage and nine in ten earn less than the £15 per hour unions are calling for.  Almost a quarter (24%) of the sector are employed on zero-hours contracts.

“This has a real impact on the lives of people who rely on care services.”

Calling for an urgent meeting to discuss the workforce crisis, the unions say:

“The Government promised to throw a protective ring around social care. But instead, it is presiding over a perfect storm.

“Therefore, we the undersigned, call for an urgent meeting with you as soon as possible to discuss our serious concerns about the social care workforce crisis and the critical next steps needed.”