BASW England response to Care Quality Commission - The state of health care and adult social care in England 2021/22
Today’s Care Quality Commission reports that health care and adult social care services are “gridlocked” and “unable to operate effectively”.
Whilst people are still receiving good levels of care when they can access it, ongoing pressures facing a stretched workforce mean that many people are seeing delayed ambulance handover delays or are simply stuck in hospitals without being discharged into the appropriate care.
More than a third (37%) on a health waiting list did not feel well supported by health and care services. Two in 5 (41%) said their ability to carry out day-to-day activities had got worse while they were waiting.
The report also refers to a stretched workforce where “providers are struggling desperately to recruit and retain staff with the right skills and in the right numbers to meet the increasing needs of people in their care.”
9 in 10 NHS leaders have also warned of a “social care workforce crisis in their area, which they expect to get worse this winter.”
Worryingly, over a quarter of care homes that had reported workforce pressures told the CQC they were “actively not admitting any new residents.”
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) reported back in May 2022 that more than half a million people were waiting for social care. Despite the tireless efforts of the social care and social work workforce throughout the pandemic, the sector is carrying its highest ever level of vacancies and the pressure on family carers is enormous.
BASW England’s National Director, Maris Stratulis comments:
“The Care Quality Commission report sadly confirms what we already knew: that health and care services are facing a devastating crisis this winter.
“Our members tell us how much pressure the workforce is under, and the scale of the challenge faced by health and care services.
“With the Government in disarray we desperately need the next Prime Minister to rise to the challenge and immediately commit to proper investment of health and care services and a plan that considers the long-term challenges faced by an overstretched workforce.”
BASW England Adult group member, Margaret Young comments:
“The CQC have provided a thorough account of the current position in the health and social care sector. We urge the government to take notice and develop policy that supports the recovery of the sector accompanied by realistic funding.
“The longer we wait for government action, the longer that the people who use services continue to suffer from the absence of appropriate help and support that meets their needs”.