MSPs told Brexit could worsen already critical shortage of social care staff
Scotland is facing a “critical shortage” in social care staff which could be made even worse as a result of Brexit, Holyrood’s Health Committee has been warned.
MSPs were told the sector suffers from high turnover rates similar to those seen in call centres due to low wages, lack of staff development and because workers feel undervalued.
The struggle to recruit and retain staff is likely to get harder as demand for care services grows, while the UK’s decision to leave the EU is of “real concern” due to the high number of EU nationals working in the industry, the committee heard.
Dr Donald Macaskill (pictured), chief executive of Scottish Care, which represents independent health and social care providers across Scotland, said organisations have already resorted to using expensive agency staff to plug gaps in provision.
“Organisations do not want to use agency staff because they are considerably more expensive,” he said.
“I heard of one provider last week who paid £800 a night for a nursing shift.
“We have a critical shortage in some elements of social care and nursing staff.
“That’s all bound up with our ability to recruit and retain staff, which we are not at the moment able to do in the numbers which would lead to a reduction in the use of agencies.”
He said the terms and conditions of jobs in the sector and a sense among staff that they are undervalued makes retaining staff difficult.
“Society, Scotland as a whole, does not value those who work in care,” he said.
“We all collectively need to do a lot more to advance the value of those who care for people, and we don’t do that.”
Mr Macaskill said employers have turned to Europe to address staff shortages, with more than half of nursing care vacancies filled by EU nationals according to data from the last nine months.
“We have seen major care home organisations and smaller organisations set up recruitment units in European cities,” he said.
“So we have proportionately around about 14-16% of the workforce of our membership – which is the largest social care workforce – who were born in Europe.
“How are we going to plug the gap which has been in existence already and will only grow in the future? Migration seems to be the only answer to that question.”
Dave Watson, of trade union Unison, which represents many of the sector’s workers, said around 60,000 additional health and social care staff are needed in the coming years, but younger workers are leaving the sector because they “can get better money stacking shelves in the supermarket”.
He said: “I have seen turnover rates in some of our better employers of nearly 25% – now that’s call centre standards.”
He said the implications for migration as a result of Brexit were “a real concern”.
“Firstly, we need an absolute commitment from the UK Government that existing EU nationals will be allowed to stay,” he said.
“Unequivocally say it now, because otherwise people will start to make alternative plans and go.
“Secondly, we need a long-term arrangement whereby we can still recruit and retain staff from overseas because we are going to need them.”
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2016, All Rights Reserved.
