Issue - meetings

Purpose of the Report:

This report provides the Adults and Lifelong Learning Select Committee with:

1)     information on the national, regional and Surrey challenge facing the Adult Social Care workforce;

2)     information on initiatives in place to support delivery of the Adult Social Care workforce strategy in Surrey, with a focus on the key areas of challenge for Surrey County Council and the independent care provider sector; and

3)    recommendations for the Adults and Lifelong Learning Select Committee to consider regarding the Adult Social Care workforce.

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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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