Home care provider calls for support workers to have a higher profile

Significant growth experienced by a Mid Shropshire branch of Carewatch shows the need for positions in care to have greater prestige, according to managing director Steve Harris.

Although expanding its workforce at around two per cent per month over the last year, the company is experiencing heightened demand for its home care services and has announced a further recruitment drive to attract 50 more members of staff.

Mr Harris comments: “I am pleased with the expansion we have made this year but it is still a long way off what we need.

“The demand has far outstripped how many people we have been able to recruit.

“I took part in a national debate organised by the Guardian newspaper which confirmed that this is a serious problem nationwide.

“The general consensus was that central government has a role to play in lifting the profile of support workers.”

Recent addition to the Carewatch HR team, Judy Kelly, concurs, saying: “Trying to get people into the care industry has proved a real issue.

“We desperately need to recruit more people, but it is positive that we are still able to grow each month. The company has a bright future and it is great to work here.”

Although have adopted some added incentives to support their recruitment drive, such as more extensive training options, a car rental scheme and credit union scheme, they remain firmly of the opinion that action needs to be taken at a national level. The country needs a workforce that can cope with the pressures of an ageing population and the rise of dementia-related conditions.