Revolutionizing Care Recruitment and Retention in the UK: Care England’s Comprehensive Strategy Top of Form

Care England is at the forefront of pioneering solutions designed to enhance the recruitment and retention of care staff within the UK Health and Social Care sector. In a strategic move, Care England has collaborated with four leading organisations—Care Character, Care Friends, Jobtrain, and Vivup—to spearhead improvements in these critical areas. This collaboration marks a significant advancement in addressing the challenges faced by the adult social care sector, offering a comprehensive approach to overcome the prevailing issues of high vacancy rates, the development and quality of care staff, and the associated high costs for providers.

The collaborative effort is encapsulated in the White Paper titled “Building the Future Care Workforce: An End-to-end Solution for Recruitment and Retention.” This document outlines a unified strategy that combines the strengths of each partner organisation to offer a seamless solution. By tackling the sector’s challenges holistically, this initiative aims to reduce staff turnover rates, enhance the quality of care, and deliver substantial cost savings for care providers.

The services provided through this partnership focus on several innovative approaches:

• Care Friends offers an Employee Referral Programme, leveraging digital technology to encourage current care workers to refer potential candidates. This system rewards referrals with points, offering incentives through a mechanism of rewards and recognition.
• Care Character introduces a Values-based Recruitment tool, designed to assess candidates on essential care qualities. This provides a consistent method for identifying the traits vital for effective frontline care and support staff.
• Jobtrain delivers an Applicant Tracking Solution that streamlines the process of sourcing, assessing, interviewing, and onboarding new staff. This approach enhances candidate engagement, reduces administrative burdens, and speeds up the onboarding process.
• Vivup presents an Employee Assistance Programme that supports staff retention through comprehensive support solutions. These range from financial support forums to strategies aimed at preventing burnout.

Martin Green, Chief Executive of Care England, highlighted the urgency of addressing the sector’s staffing crisis, noting the unsustainable annual cost of £3 billion due to high turnover rates. “With a third of the workforce leaving their roles annually, the cost of rehiring exceeds £6,000 per position. It’s imperative that we find sustainable solutions to support care providers in navigating these workforce challenges,” said Green. He emphasised the need for innovative solutions in the absence of significant government intervention, aiming to bolster the workforce and unlock new opportunities for care staff.

This initiative by Care England represents a proactive step towards ensuring the recruitment and retention of the UK’s Health and Social Care sector. By integrating these comprehensive solutions, Care England is leading the way in transforming the landscape of care provision, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for those in need of care.