16 | Nursing in Practice | Summer 2023
EDITORIAL
Caring about social care …
In England we have become used to a continuous ‘ crisis ’ in social care , with politicians ’ pledges to restore the sector coming to nothing . But the appointment of the first chief nurse for adult social care has brought a new energy to the problem . Are we finally seeing the tide start to turn ?
Opinion and debate on the latest issues affecting nurses in general practice and the community nursingin practice . co . uk
Carolyn Scott is editor of Nursing in Practice
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There ’ s no debating the value of the social care sector . We all need it to operate effectively , to provide good care for vulnerable people and to avoid patients being stuck in hospital because there ’ s nowhere to discharge them to . But are we caring enough about the ongoing challenges facing social care ?
The sector has long been troubled by funding , recruitment and retention issues . There are now alarm bells warning that nursing care is being lost , as providers , further weakened by the pandemic , struggle to attract staff .
Earlier this year , a study into the sector found that a shortage of registered nurses is impacting care homes to the point where many are forced to consider withdrawing nursing care altogether .
Providers in England say they are being put in this position because a 5 % increase for NHS-funded nursing care for 2023 / 24 signally fails to keep pace with rising costs . Skilled staff find they can earn more for far less demanding jobs elsewhere . Some might argue this is how business works in a free market but the reality is our most vulnerable are paying the price for politicians ’ broken promises to ‘ fix ’ the social care system . Covid shone a particularly harsh spotlight on care homes , which were operating under the most difficult of circumstances .
Yet analysis from UCL and Warwick Business School suggests that during Covid , little of the emergency funding provided to care homes found its way to frontline staff , who faced enormous workloads and stress . In
Social care needs to become a place where the best nurses want to work
fact , conditions and support for staff may have been reduced , it found . If we expect the sector to look after an ageing population , it needs to become a place where the best nurses , and other staff , want to work .
In this edition , we spoke to England ’ s first chief nurse for adult social care Professor Deborah Sturdy , and others , about these challenges ( page 6 ). She is flying the flag high for positive change and has kickstarted a rebrand of social care as a rewarding and challenging place , with great career opportunities for more people .
Rather than having to withdraw services , the sector needs to attract the best nurses to roles Professor Sturdy says offer flexibility , autonomy and the chance to help ‘ turn the tide ’ towards high-quality provision .
Covid posed unique problems for social care but it also highlighted its status as a sector that cares for its patients like no other . The current situation presents a complex puzzle but , as our article shows , there are signs of positive change . Let ’ s all care about adult social care .
What are your views on change in social care ? Please get in touch at carolynscott @ cogora . com