Academy to tackle ‘ticking time bomb’ in elderly care
Council to open training centre to address chronic shortage in carers
PLANS for a new academy to address the chronic shortage of people working within Scotland’s care sector are being developed by one of the country’s biggest local authorities.
North Lanarkshire Council hopes to create thousands of jobs, as well as dealing with the “ticking time bomb” of a lack of staff in the sector set against increasing demand and a growing elderly population.
The academy aims to bring together the council, NHS, voluntary sector and further and higher education partners to create education tailored for the workplace and high quality jobs.
A report passed by the council states that the Health and Social Care Academy “will develop and promote a range of entry routes into health and social care roles that offer valued, sustainable and satisfying jobs with many opportunities and progression pathways”.
However, the document warns it can only be delivered within the financial resources available to agencies who would be involved.
Estimates suggest there will be 36,000 more people aged 75 and over living in Lanarkshire over the next 20 years, a rise of 48 per cent which will increase the health and social care pressures. Over the same period, it is thought the working age population will also decline.
The report states: “Research and workforce analysis tells us that there will be a dearth of skilled staff in the health and social care sector if we do not invest now in the workforce of the future.
“The workforce needs to come from a variety of routes, foundation and modern apprenticeships, school leavers, those form college, university graduates, those wanting a career change in mid life after looking after relatives, those wishing to undertake volunteering and most importantly given the nature of health and social care we require a mixed gender balance at all ages.”
It adds: “The system is starting to creak and given the future demographics we require to address the current workforce pressures. The danger if we don’t plan (and invest) now for demographic growth and anticipate caring for our people who have more complex and multiple conditions at home or in the community we will have a system which will be at breaking point by 2030, if not before.”
Frank McNally, convener of the council’s education committee, said it was important to focus efforts on where jobs will be required in the jobs blackspot.
He said: “This is an ambitious vision, bringing together all the relevant partners who can ensure we have sustainable services in the future and, at the same time, deliver on our commitments to jobs and the local economy.”
Donald MacAskill, chief executive of sector body Scottish Care, said: “We look forward to being involved in the work of bringing the proposed academy to fruition in North Lanarkshire with our third and statutory sector colleagues.
“One of the potential benefits of the academy is the recognition that shared terms and conditions with equitable commissioning will help ensure job stability and equal treatment for workers.”