The call comes from minister for care, Caroline Dinenage, who has asked the adult social care workforce for their views on employee benefits in the sector.
“Our adult social care staff deserve to be recognised and feel valued”
Caroline Dinenage
Ministers want to hear from England’s 1.7 million adult social care staff about the kinds of benefits or reward schemes they are offered and whether this has influenced their job choices.
They also want to find out if such schemes make them feel valued and if there’s anything else they would like to see being offered.
Ms Dinenage explained that adult social care staff “deserve to be recongised and feel valued,” yet she said she knew that this was not always the case.
Therefore, Ms Dinenage said she wanted to hear from those in the among the workforce to help shape policies which could benefit staff working in the sector.
Staff have been urged to feed their views throughout May via the Talk Health and Care platform. The first of its kind platform is was desinged by health secretary, Matt Hancock, to provide NHS and social care staff a space where they can feed ideas directly back to ministers and government, to better inform policy-making.
Speaking at the ADASS Spring Seminar, the Ms Dinenage said: “Many adult social care providers provide outstanding packages of employee benefits, but it is time to ensure better access across the country.
“Our adult social care staff deserve to be recognised and feel valued for the incredible, life-changing work they do, and I know that this isn’t always the case,” she added.
“I want our brilliant adult social care workforce to share examples of employee benefits and rewards schemes offered by their employers,” she said. “This is their chance to have their say and help shape national policies that could benefit staff working across the sector.”
New ADASS president, Julie Ogley, said: “People who work in adult social care are highly skilled, valued and committed, but unfortunately do not always get the recognition and rewards they deserve.
“This challenge will help to improve this and encourage greater recruitment and retention of our vital workforce,” she added.
“Every minute of every day, social care workers make an essential difference to all of those in our communities who need care and support, transforming their lives,” said Ms Ogley.
“Social care staff deserve to be rewarded fairly for the work they do, which needs to be part of a long-term sustainable funding solution for the sector as a whole,” she said.
Staff can post their views and ideas here or they can get involved by using the hashtag #TalkHealthandCare.
The call follows the Every Day is Different national adult social care recruitment campaign launched in February to raise the image and profile of the sector.
https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/policies-and-guidance/views-of-adult-social-care-staff-wanted-to-help-boost-recruitment/7028787.article