Challenges in adult social care: A snapshot
Oct 7, 2021
Getting older is a natural part of life. During this time, everyone wishes for more care and attention. But unfortunately, we cannot ensure our loving people will get sufficient care and love in this modern fast life. That is why social adult care has become more critical in this new era.
Thousands of people receive Social Care in their own homes, nursing homes, and residential facilities. Caregivers are responsible for providing care, support, and safeguards to individuals with a wide range of needs due to a disability, illness, or other circumstance. Yet, on the other hand, the social care sector is under tremendous pressure; let's look at the challenges adult social care faces.
Adult social care-Importance
Adult social care can help to make positive changes in people's lives. People's well-being can be enhanced, and they can also become more independent and make better social connections. Support and high-quality care allow individuals to take care of their own needs and live life to the fullest.
However, if their workforce is not valued and rewarded, adult social care cannot fulfil its crucial role of supporting the elderly and vulnerable.
Challenges in the workforce of adult social care
There is widespread exploitation and poor working conditions among the social care workforces. It also represents low pay, insecurity, and inadequate training. This crisis has resulted in a growing labour shortage, as employers have been struggling to hire and retain the workers they need. The poor working conditions of the labour force are not just detrimental to the workers; they are also devastating to the quality of the care provided, and they undermine the sustainability of the health care industry as a whole.
There are more details to be discussed about the challenges.
Denial of employment rights and low wages
As a profession, social care is more than a way to earn money with self-satisfaction. Yet, a decent living requires monetary compensation. However, the adult social care sector is characterized by endemic low pay. Studies indicate the amount of underpayment of minimum wage may be much more significant. In addition, there is substantial evidence that supports the lack of employment rights for the care sector and illegal underpayment of the minimum wage. A combination of low hourly rates and widespread non-payment of work hours, particularly in-home care, is responsible.
Insecurity
Insecurity is a common feature of the social care workforce. It is especially difficult for home care workers. Due to the actual prevalence of zero-hours contracts, this problem is likely to be more complex. Social care workers are the most likely to use these contracts, in which they are not guaranteed how many hours they will work.
Studies show that one in four adult social workers in England is on a zero-hours contract. As a result, the proportion of home care workers increases to one in three (Skills for Care, 2018). To combat the issue of zero-hour contracts, the Government has recently passed legislation requiring employers to offer their workers guaranteed hours after three months.
Lack of training
Whatever the workplace, having trained personnel and equipping them with the appropriate knowledge and skills to do their jobs efficiently is vital. However, most home care providers do not receive adequate training in their respective fields.
Supporting vulnerable people, having complex needs, and providing emotional and social support is social care. In addition, by developing skills and knowledge, employees will feel empowered to perform their job confidently. Thus, they will feel more positive about their job. Consequently, confident employees are also more likely to take on new challenges and feel more comfortable in the workplace. These factors will contribute to the quality of their work. Therefore, this can boost retention rates, which are beneficial for the entire organization.
The growing demand of an ageing society.
Social care will continue to be a high priority in the future due to an aging population. However, the growth of the social care workforce hasn't kept up with demand in recent years.
If significant new employees are not attracted to the sector, the sector will face a stark shortfall in staff over the next decade. Some changes to the migration system may alleviate this shortfall, but a significant gap remains. Adult social care workers cannot cope with the increasing demands of their profession without addressing the poor conditions endemic in the field.
Poor working conditions
In adult social care, poor working conditions lead to a significant decline in workers' satisfaction, which ultimately leads many to leave the field. Insecurity and the prevalence of zero-hours contracts were also commonly perceived as negatively affecting the workforce.
Further, many care workers acknowledged that they were physically and emotionally exhausted from excessive workloads.
It has been shown that excessive time pressure on caregivers has undermined the quality of care and led to unmet needs. Those are a few of the things that cause people to leave this profession. In addition, when people are dissatisfied with their work, they may leave, negatively affecting the quality of services they provide.
Do we need to do anything?
In social care, the current workforce planning system is insufficient, especially in adult care. These individuals may work as home members, and their challenges require more attention in detail. However, the situation will not change unless the Government acknowledges the importance of social care and its interdependence.
Keywords: Adult social care, low wages, social care, adult social care
