- Conference
- 2023 National Community Conference and Seminar
- Date
- 10 November 2022
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes with grave concern the on-going staffing crisis across the social care sector.
With social care organisations haemorrhaging staff and 165,000 vacancies remaining unfilled (skills for care Oct 2022), the companies providing these essential services are on their knees, and those on the front line are feeling it the most.
Looking at the current job adverts, it is clear to see that one of the main reasons for recruitment difficulties is the low pay. When you can work in your local supermarket for higher salary and significantly less responsibility than you can in the highly skilled workforce of social care, is it any wonder that we have a national staffing crisis on our hands.
Over many years, instead of paying staff a fair wage, employers have been happy to continue to fill the pockets of the nursing and care agencies, to plug gaps in the workforce. In recent months, these agencies have doubled their hourly rates, which has not been reflected by the commissioners.
It should not come to you as a surprise, that most large social care organisations, in England are running at millions of pounds of debt each year. This is unsustainable and subsequently we are facing an impending disaster.
Conferences therefore calls on the Community Service Group Executive to
1) continue to work with the labour link, NEC and other stake holders including lobbying political parties in a position of power and influence
2. continue to provide all support possible to groups of members in individual employers looking to improve their terms and conditions and pay levels
3. continue to build UNISON recognition across the whole sector
4. work towards the aim of a national regulated pay structure for social care.