Covid-19 has taken its toll on the ‘forgotten’ social care workforce
source:
Shropshire Star
published: 9 March 2021
Social care providers have had to take “drastic action” to remain sustainable because of consistent cost pressures amid the coronavirus crisis, which has taken a heavy toll on workers in the sector, according to a new report.
Almost two out of three providers surveyed reported an increase in absenteeism among staff relating to mental health since the beginning of the pandemic. Most of the 72 social care providers surveyed by Hft now offer mental health awareness training, while almost two thirds now provide in-house mental health first-aiders.
Hft, a leading learning disability charity, said its study highlights that social care providers appear to be reaching a “crisis point” and are having to tackle persistent cost pressures such as rising wage bills and lack of fee income.
More than half of respondents said they have had to close down some parts of their organisation or hand back contracts. Around a third of providers said they have made redundancies, and one in 10 revealed they have had to offer care to fewer individuals.
