Agenda item

The Scrutiny Commission task group report on a review into Adult Social Care workforce planning for the future is submitted.

The Chair introduced the Task Group report ‘Adult Social Care Workforce Planning: Looking to the Future’ a review that looked into the future and reviewed the findings of workforce planning. The Chair wanted to convey his sincere thanks to the Task Group Members and Councillor March for conducting the review and producing the report which he described as informative and presented in a way that was easy to digest.

Cllr March thanked Task Group Members, Adult Social Care Officers, Nazir Hussein from the Social Care Development Group, Matt Errington from Skills for Care, and Anita Patel (Scrutiny Policy Officer) for her assistance in bringing the report together. Councillor March also thanked other people including care homes and unions that had taken part. The following points were made during the presentation of the report:

·         The report highlighted the severity of a situation the authority would find itself in in 15 years’ time.

·         The lowlight was the authority would have to recruit 1.5 times the existing workforce again.

·         There were two key recommendations highlighted:

1/ As soon as reasonably possible, it was recommended to pay the Real Living Wage and commissioning out care at the Real Living Wage and to shape the expectation for those providing care locally around slightly higher wages.

2/ To expedite the 2019 Manifesto commitment to sign up to the Ethical Care Charter and implement the requirements there as soon as possible.

·         Other changes were recommended on moving towards better work and care, many of which were free or low cost.

Matt Errington was present from Skills for Care, a national charity funded by the Department for Health and Social Care. The following points were made:

·         The meeting was informed that part of the work programme was the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS), which historically was called the National Minimum Data Set (NMDS-SC). Completion of the data set was mandatory for local authorities but not mandatory for the private, independent or voluntary sector care providers.

·         It was noted that completion rates varied across the country. In Leicester the rate of return as of June 2020 was 34% of providers which was below the national average at around 55%. Based on the level of their return it made them illegible to be able to claim from the Workforce Development Funding which was dispersed by Skills for Care to upskill the adult social care workforce with qualifications and training for staff relevant to the sector.

·         Data in the report was largely taken from the ASC-WDS system and could be analysed. Based on the data it was considered the workforce needed to grow by 36% in line with the ageing population. Taking into consideration other factors, for example, turnover of workforce, and the number of staff reaching retirement age in the next 15 years, it was anticipated that an extra 7 – 15% of extra people were needed dependent on job roles, and was a particular issue in the domiciliary care market.

Councillor Russell, Deputy City Mayor, Social Care and Anti-Poverty commented the document was impressive in its detail and longevity of vision, and there were many recommendations included she would like to see taken forward, though for some finances might be a challenge. She further noted the broader challenges across the sector, not just financial, but the level of respect and how positions were promoted. She further added there were vulnerabilities around the profession which was under respected and traditional considered as ‘womens work’ and society did not recognise caring on the same level as other professions.

Councillor Russell recommended the report be shared with local MPs Liz Kendal and Jonathon Ashworth given their national responsibilities to assist them to influence national discussion.

In response to Members observations and questions the following was noted:

·         The recommendation for creating an internal agency for Leicester City Council staff was noted, to invest in apprenticeships, degrees and recruitment, not just for health and social care. It was noted that investing in a trading arm would not be without cost. The new Kick Start programme was noted.

·         Members found it alarming that 50% of the care workforce had no qualifications, but were looking after the most vulnerable, sometimes with mental health and physical issues. It was noted the 50% figure referred to qualifications and was reflective of the national average, and that carers undertook mandatory training such as moving and handling.

·         It was requested that LASALS be approached to ask if they could offer the Health and Social Care Level 2 qualification freely to those locally employed on less than £16k per year and share with them the findings of the report.

·         It was asked if the local authority could influence that carers must have completed health and social care qualification within 12 months but acknowledged it would be logistically challenging.

·         It was believed there was a disincentive to train people and continue to pay them the minimum wage, and that ultimately the single most important recommendation was how to get people onto the Real Living Wage. It was added the market indicator was turnover and staffing levels, and the amount of people leaving the market. It was further noted that unless people were persuaded to change the situation would reach crisis level.

Councillor March noted the recommendations on qualifications and would work with Councillor Batool to strengthen the recommendations in the report. It was further noted the gender inequality and the sector not having the upskilling required.

It was asked if grant funding could be given to one charity to provide training to those already in the workforce with no formal qualifications. Councillor Russell responded it could be considered, but would have to be considered alongside the range of other training provided, some of which was offered by organisations themselves, some by other adult education providers in the city, and that there would need to be evidence as to why grant money should be put towards an organisation for training instead of one of the other things funded such as carers mental health, and the authority would need to ensure it was not being fulfilled elsewhere.

Councillor Russell also agreed with Members that getting providers to understand that the better training and remunerated its staff were, the more likely they were to stay with the organisation, and that by getting providers to recognise this was a bigger challenge.

The Chair commended the report and that the report and hoped the recommendations would be seriously thought about and acted upon, and that the strategy of Government needed to change to recognise the value the workers and industry.

Councillor March moved that the draft report be approved, and this was agreed by the Chair. It was noted that the report would be taken to Overview Select Committee, and to the Executive, and to return to Scrutiny to note any comments.

AGREED:

1.    That the report be noted.

2.    The report be taken to Overview Select Committee and the Executive for comment, and to be brought back the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission at a future meeting.