The Care Workers Charity voices apprehension about the responsibilities being placed on care workers without extra pay or support. Following the government announcement on immediate reforms for adult social care alongside the establishment of a dedicated commission to explore the future of the sector.
Karolina Gerlich, CEO of the Care Workers’ Charity says: “Once again, care workers are being asked to take on additional responsibilities, with health-related tasks including routine health checks, wound care, administering insulin for diabetes patients and supporting those with mental health to a crisis plan. My concern is that care workers will be expected to do more without adequate support or additional pay. We know that care workers are more than capable of undertaking delegated health tasks, but this must come with proper training, fair pay, and clinical supervision.
It’s time we had a serious conversation about what social care is and the vital role care workers play. Social care should not simply be treated as an extension of the NHS, especially when the care sector lacks the level of funding that the NHS receives. There also needs to be greater acknowledgement that care workers are already performing complex health-related tasks. During a recent roundtable discussion, care workers highlighted their roles in providing end-of-life care, catheter care, PEG care, and stoma care. They also emphasised their contributions to preventative healthcare, such as supporting healthier lifestyles by helping individuals quit smoking or reduce alcohol consumption. Additionally, care workers play a crucial role in reducing the need for hospitalisation and helping people reintegrate into their communities following medical treatment. These vital contributions often go unrecognised.
Participants at this and subsequent roundtables with a cross-section of care sector stakeholders also cautioned against reducing social care to health-related tasks alone. They stressed the importance of valuing social care as a distinct sector in its own right; with one participant saying, “The NHS saves lives, while social care helps people them.” A narrow focus on health tasks risks detracting from the unique and critical role social care plays in enhancing quality of life for individuals and communities. It is essential to celebrate and value social care as a sector that not only complements the NHS but as important and valuable in its own right.”