Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Social Care Workforce

Tuesday 6 December 2022 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department is supporting recruitment in care homes and agencies through a national campaign and by adding social care workers to the shortage occupation list.
  • The Minister will consider including specialist MND training as part of the workforce development fund reforms.
  • The discharge fund of 500 million is available to address workforce challenges and increase social care capacity.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Lewer Con
Immigration Social Care
Context

N/A

Question

What steps his Department is taking to increase the size of the social care workforce.

Answer from Helen Whately

We are supporting care homes and agencies in their efforts to recruit staff, including with a substantial national recruitment campaign. We have also added social care workers to the shortage occupation list to benefit from international recruitment to increase the workforce in the short term.

Answered
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Q2 Andrew Lewer Con
NHS Social Care
Context

A recent report from the Motor Neurone Disease Association found that most unpaid MND carers provide more than 75 hours of care a week, but many are unable to access respite services due to lack of skilled workers.

Question

Will the Minister commit to increasing specialised training for conditions such as MND in the social care workforce to protect carers' health and wellbeing?

Answer from Helen Whately

At present, £11 million annually is provided through the workforce development fund which social care employers can access. We are working on reforms that include training and skills improvement; I will look into including specialist MND training as part of this.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific commitment to MND training

How: Looking Into

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Q3 Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Social Care Housing
Context

The average age of the population is 10 years above the national average, leading to greater demand for social care services. Poor pay, conditions, lack of career prospects and absence of private rental sector exacerbate recruitment issues.

Question

Will the Minister talk to her colleagues in Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to ensure a comprehensive package for communities such as mine, ensuring well-paid carers with affordable housing options?

Answer from Helen Whately

In the short term, £500 million will be provided through the discharge fund this winter to increase social care capacity and address workforce challenges. In the long term, reforms are being introduced including addressing workforce needs which include housing availability for care workers.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific commitment to comprehensive package

How: Looking At, Addressing

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Q4 Peter Bone Con
NHS Social Care
Context

Northampton General Hospital has around 150 patients who could be medically discharged but are not. West Northamptonshire Council is closing Spinneyfields, a step-down facility with a private finance initiative contract.

Question

How can the situation where beds remain occupied unnecessarily and funding goes to an empty building for seven years due to a PFI deal be addressed?

Answer from Helen Whately

I will take away the example from my hon. Friend's constituency and look into it; £500 million discharge fund is available to help increase capacity and address workforce challenges, ensuring those who do not need hospital care can receive proper care.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific action for Spinneyfields closure

How: Looking Into

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Q5 Barry Sheerman Lab
NHS Social Care Local Government
Context

Many issues discussed, particularly social care, require local authorities to be seen as allies rather than adversaries.

Question

When will the new Health team recognise that local authorities must be full partners in delivering every sort of care?

Answer from Helen Whately

Integrated care systems have been established to bring together health and social care. The £500 million discharge fund is allocated to local areas for pooled use between the NHS and local authorities; historic funding of £7.5 billion over two years has also been provided.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific timeline or commitment to partnership status

How: Already Established, Funding Settlement

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