Watchdog slams Tory care underfunding
URGENT action is needed to tackle chronic underfunding and a staffing crisis in social care, a report warns.
The National Audit Office says staff in England are underpaid and undervalued.
Despite increasing numbers needing care, 88,440 posts were unfilled in the past year, while staff turnover was 27.8%.
And half of our 1.34million care workers are paid £7.50 per hour or below.
The report says: “The Department [ for Health and Social Care] cannot demonstrate the sector is sustainably funded, which makes planning difficult.”
Unison assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Without urgent ministerial action, the sector will continue its slow-motion collapse.”
Labour’s Meg Hillier, chair of the Public Accounts committee, added: “The social care workforce is in a precarious state.” The Department of Health and Social Care said: “We will shortly publish a health and care workforce strategy.”