Uplifting the social care workforce must include embracing modern flexible ways of working, say REC

Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech on social care reform this morning, Shazia Ejaz, Director of Campaigns at the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), said:

“The focus on building a national care system that is fit for purpose is of course encouraging. We ask that any workforce strategy for the sector does not replicate the mistakes of NHS staffing procurement where valuable skilled staff are having options to work flexibly reduced.  If the government is serious about building a national care service, workforce flexibility is part of the solution and will help ensure the recruitment and retention of good people.

“Flexible staffing has been a feature of the NHS for decades, helping services respond to both routine pressures and periods of crisis. But it is crucial that any new national care service does not take these temporary workers for granted by limiting opportunities to feasibly work through agencies when it is such an important pathway for balancing work and other commitments.

“Delivering a robust national care system requires the public and private sector to work together in new forms of partnership. Staffing agencies should be seen as valuable partners to developing a social care system that is well-resourced and can meet unprecedented demands. Agencies must not be marginalised and misunderstood as has unfortunately happened with NHS staffing in recent years.”