MIND THE GAP:

Social care is a skilled sector that enables people to lead full, independent and happy lives in the heart of their communities. It offers a rewarding career, providing two million jobs across England and Scotland and contributing almost £59bn to the economy. It is a preserver of dignity, a prolonger of life and an essential cog in the efficient functioning of the NHS.

Yet, the issue of pay inequality is resulting in a deepening crisis. An unprecedented amount of care workers are leaving the sector, with vacancies rising by 52% to 165,000 in one year. Compassionate, dedicated and talented individuals are being forced to leave a job they love because they can no longer make ends meet.

Care providers, who desperately want to pay their workforce more for the vital work they deliver, are forced to give too much energy and investment managing vacancies, rather than focusing on innovation.

Ultimately, this impacts on the lives of the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on our sector’s crucial support: deprived of consistent relationships and facing frequently changing care staff. Many are often