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UK News

Challenge for the Church amid 'perfect storm' in adult social care

by Aaron James

The figures from Skills for Care, analysed by BBC News, found more than 900 people in England have been leaving the profession every day from 2015-16.

That signals a turnover rate in adult social care of 27 per cent - nearly double the average of professions in England generally.

The stats also revealed care workers are paid almost half the average salary in England, at around £14,800.

The conditions, along with an increasingly ageing population, mean around 1 in 20 adult social care positions in England are currently unfilled.

The UK Homecare Association has called on the government to do more to address the problems, saying that the profession has "begun collapsing".

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Peter Saunders, Director of the Christian Medical Fellowship, told Premier's News Hour: "It's certainly very worrying. I think we've got something of a perfect storm here, with decreasing funding at the same of increasing need, and no clear way of meeting the gap.

"Our care workers are some of the most valuable we have in terms of what they do. It's really tough. It's incredibly poorly paid; it's not surprising that a lot are leaving.

"There's a big challenge for churches, providing people who could be carers... and encouraging this as a really worthwhile job to be doing. The most important 'p' is that we pray for a real solution to this."

A spokesman from the Department of Health said: "Social care jobs have increased at an average of 3 per cent a year since 2010, but we want to see improvements in turnover rates, with talented staff attracted to a robust sector backed by an additional £2bn over the next three years.

"Meanwhile, we're investing in the workforce of the future, with a total of 87,800 apprentices starting last year - up 37,300 compared to 2010."

Listen to Premier's Alex Williams speaking to Peter Saunders on the News Hour:

 
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