Declarations of Interest:
None
Witnesses:
Mel Few,
Cabinet Member for Adults
Joanna
Klimera, Lead Consultant –
Service Partner Adult Social Care, Surrey County Council
Alison
Lawson, Practice Development Manager, Surrey County
Council
Erica
Lockhart, Chief Executive, Surrey Care Association
Alex
Mackay, Workforce Strategy and Business Support Manager, Surrey
County Council
Nick
Markwick, Director, Surrey Coalition of Disabled People
Sonya
Sellar, Area Director – Adult Social Care, Surrey County
Council
Key
points raised during the discussion:
- The report was
introduced by witnesses who advised the Committee that recruitment
and retention of adult social care staff was a national, regional
and Surrey challenge. Across the country, poor image of social care
and a perceived lack of prestige resulted in people not being
attracted into a career in social care. The NHS had a more positive
profile among the public and were perceived as offeing staff clearer career pathways. Those
considering a career in care were therefore more likely to apply
for positions within the NHS. Members heard that recruitment and
retention of staff was one of the most significant challenges in
the care sector in Surrey and that the Council had introduced a
number of initiatives to address this challenge including working
with colleagues in the NHS and Health Education Kent, Surrey and
Sussex (HEKSS). The Council was working with Surrey’s
independent care provider sector through a program of work that
aimed to support quality, competency and capacity across the
workforce. Within this program of work Surrey Care Association led
on a Surrey-wide recruitment and retention initiative. Members also
received an update on recruitment and retention challenges across
the independent care sector in Surrey. The availability of
affordable housing, perceptions of care workers as low skilled and
a lack of career progression opportunities were also harming the
capacity of independent care providers to recruit and retain
staff.
- Attention was drawn
to the significant number of social care staff working in Surrey
who were from the European Economic Area (EEA) particularly within
the Independent Care Sector and clarity was sought by the Committee
on the impact that the UK leaving the EU would have on the ability
of providers to recruit and retain staff. Members heard that the
independent care sector in Surrey had serious concerns about the
impact that it will have, particularly those that employ large
number of staff who are from the European Union (EU). The Committee
was informed that there was a shortage of local people with the
skills or inclination to become care workers which created problems
for the entirety of the sector in Surrey. Concern was expressed
that the incorrect perception of care workers as being low-skilled
meant that national organisations had failed to grasp the potential
impact that Brexit could have on the capacity of providers to
recruit and retain social care staff.
- Members expressed
concern that 36% of posts within the Council’s Reablement service were vacant and requested
clarity on how many people it would be necessary to recruit to have
a fully staffed ...
view the full minutes text for item 6