Plans to develop the domestic care workforce

I welcome unequivocally this investment in developing the adult social care workforce. A new focus on better training, clearer career paths and improved job prospects is a good thing.

Pilgrims’ Friend Society, and I am sure all other providers of care, will take maximum advantage of this new provision.

The challenges that we will face, and all providers will face, is that the funding from Government isn't there to provide pay and conditions that match the high levels of skill and expertise that people need to deliver excellent adult social care. So the workforce plan won’t in and of itself solve the problems that we face in finding and keeping enough good people, but it’s welcome nevertheless that Government is starting to take action to recognise the importance of caring as a profession and a calling.

As a Christian charity that takes to heart Jesus’s command that we should all love and care for our neighbours and those who are vulnerable, we would like to see a similar focus and encouragement extended to community groups and volunteers that care, many of which are church based, so that they too are recognised, valued, equipped and encouraged.

The recent Reimagining Care Commission sponsored by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York positioned “caring” as something that we all do and that is the context that we would recommend for all Government policies and initiatives.