Home care crisis worsens with one provider forced to turn away five new 'care packages per day'

Home care providers are facing the biggest recruitment crisis “anyone can remember” with one home care company turning down “five new care packages” every day.

Caremark Redcar & Cleveland has experienced rapid growth over the last 12 months as the demand for its services has been driven by the company’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the desire for people to remain in their own homes.

The company already employs 350 staff but managing director Michelle Jackson says they ideally need to recruit at least 50 more carers in order to grow further.

Ms Jackson said: “There’s never been a bigger demand for our services but unfortunately we can’t recruit carers fast enough to take on new care packages.

“It means, on average, we’re having to turn down five new care packages every day, which is frustrating because we know the difference it makes to people when they receive care in their own home, rather than in hospital or a residential setting.”

In a survey conducted by ITV News, in conjunction with United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA), more than three quarters (78 per cent) of the 843 providers polled said recruiting carers is the hardest it has ever been.

Due to the staffing crisis, 30 per cent said they are handing back some, or all, of their contracts to local authorities because they can no longer fulfil their duties while 95 per cent of home care providers said they are unable to take on any new clients in need of their help.

'The care worker shortages are the worst anyone can remember'

Dr Jane Townson, chief executive of the UK Home Care Association (UKHCA) said: “Our worry is that the care worker shortages are the worst anyone can remember, and we’re then going to add on top of that a further loss to the sector of people that, for whatever reason at the moment, don’t want to be vaccinated.”

Dr Townson says the pandemic has not helped with staff becoming “really exhausted” as along with care home workers, home care workers were one of the few sectors “doing face to face visits.”

The immigration policy following Brexit has also hampered recruitment and now vaccination as a condition of deployment is also adding to the problem.

Dr Townson also wants care workers pay and conditions reformed. She said: “The way home care is commissioned and purchased many councils buying home care by the minute that means employers have to pay home care workers by the minute which we think should be unlawful. It is not in the best interests for the people receiving care or people giving care."

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Officer, said: "It's no wonder care providers are chronically understaffed. This is a direct result of the appalling pay and condition - often including zero-hours contracts - our dedicated care workers are forced to endure.

"Carers are highly skilled professionals, who made incredible sacrifices during the pandemic. They should be treated and paid as such - care workers deserve £15 an hour, no less.

"The government needs to stop kicking care plans into the long grass and ensure our crumbling social care system is properly funded.”

'Help us help people'

Ms Jackson is now making a plea to anyone who would like to be a care worker.

“Come and help us help people who want to remain in their own homes.

“Our carers at Caremark (Redcar & Cleveland) can earn circa £20,000 a year for working full time hours in a week and we’re actively in discussions with our local authority asking for more money to be allocated to health and social care so we can pay our carers more.

“In addition, our carers also receive a pension, free ongoing training and flexibility over when they work and what they actually do."

Ms Jackson adds: “We are a local company employing local people and our mission is to provide a local service which can make a difference to those who have chosen to remain in their own home.

“We are waiting to welcome people who may find themselves out of work or are ready for a change in career.”

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