Survey suggests widespread apathy amongst social care staff

Only one in fourteen social care professionals believe that changes implemented since 2007 have had a positive impact on the sector, according to recruitment agency Randstad Care.

The survey of 2,000 UK staff examining attitudes to change in the workplace, revealed that social care professionals are some of the least positive in the UK when it comes to the impact of change in their sector implemented since the start of recession.

Only 7% of social care staff believe change has had a positive impact compared to 16% of wider UK workforce. Three fifths (61%) of social care professionals say change has had a negative impact over the last few years.

The sectors with the most positive view of the impact of the recession on their industry are FMCG (42%), manufacturing (31%) and financial services (27%).

Nearly three quarters (75%) of social care professionals say that the most significant impact has been felt as a result of changes to funding. The second most significant impact, identified by over half (53%) of social care staff, has been to do with changes to workloads and the targets set in order to assess staff.

Victoria Short, managing director of Randstad Care, said: “The key changes in the sector since 2007 have been focussed on funding and the targets social care professionals are having to work towards. These changes have been introduced in order to create a social care sector service that is able to operate in an austere environment while maintaining standards.

“While many social care staff appreciate that change is necessary to operate effectively and are encouraging further change in the coming years, it seems that engaging those working within the sector and communicating the benefits of change has been lacking and needs to be addressed in the future.”

Table : Percentage of workers who believe change since 2007 has had a positive impact on their industry (by sector)

Further change needed for sector to improve 
     
Nearly half (49%) of social care professionals say that further change is necessary for the sector to improve. However, nearly a third (30%) said they and their colleagues would actively resist future change with 9% saying there would be significant resistance in the form of potential resignations and industrial action.

Victoria Short, said: “It’s clear from the attitudes of many social care professionals that they understand change is necessary in order for their sector to function effectively in a climate of austere public finances. However, it appears the current system of implementing change is far from ideal and lessons must be learned on how to communicate the benefits that change can bring to carers, patients and the sector as a whole.

“Any basic analysis of change will involve looking at both the threats and opportunities and it’s important staff are aware of these too. According to ACAS, professional fulfilment is gained through a feeling of having some control over your working life. The greater the level of control, the happier you will be. Change can be a threat to that, but with appropriate communication, social care providers can minimise their staff’s feelings of lack of control, and maximise their professional fulfilment, even during difficult periods of change.”