Social care at ‘crisis point’ as mental health toll on ‘forgotten’ workers revealed

Research finds ‘beleaguered’ providers handing back contracts and making redundancies amid soaring costs, while a union warns staff are ‘exhausted and traumatised’, reports Jon Sharman

Matt Hancock displays an NHS-style ‘Care’ badge in April 2020. Ministers have still not delivered the reform plan Boris Johnson said was ‘prepared’ in 2019 (PA)

Ministers must pledge new funds to support “forgotten” social care workers through a crisis in the sector, a charity has said.

In a survey, 62 per cent of care companies reported mental health-related absences had risen during the coronavirus pandemic, one-tenth higher than a year earlier.

HFT, a learning disability charity, said rising costs had left providers at “crisis point” while their staff were a “forgotten workforce” during the turmoil of Covid-19.

Of 72 companies surveyed, more than half said they had had to close parts of their organisation or pull out of contracts. One-third had imposed redundancies, while one in 10 had been forced to provide care to fewer people.

But most still said they offered mental health awareness training and two-thirds had in-house support.

HFT’s chief executive, Kirsty Matthews, said: “In a year where the social care sector has played a pivotal role on the front line, providers have gone to great lengths to support staff.

“It is vital the government provides a cash injection specifically to ensure frontline social care staff have the mental health support they deserve, and that it is not at the expense of an already beleaguered sector.

“While the Covid-19 pandemic has seen some additional funding enter the sector, it falls far short of solving an enduring and underlying financial challenge.”

HFT invited all MPs to a virtual event on Wednesday to discuss its report.

Ms Matthews’ comments followed an admission by Allegra Stratton, the prime minister’s spokesperson, last week that ministers had not yet considered their care reform plan “in detail”.

When Boris Johnson first entered Downing Street in July 2019 he said the Conservatives had a “clear plan we have prepared”, but later admitted this was not the case.

Responding to weekend reports which said the government would publish its proposal by year’s end, Jeremy Hunt, the former health secretary, said: “We will hold them to it.”

Mr Hunt criticised his Tory colleague Rishi Sunak following last week’s Budget, which he said gave “little hope for [a] social care sector bruised and demoralised” by coronavirus.

Mr Sunak, the chancellor, barely mentioned social care when he set out the government’s spending plans.

Josie Dent, managing economist of Cebr, which conducted HFT’s research, said the care sector’s finances were “precarious” and that costs were rising.

She said: “In spite of this, the research shows providers have increased their mental health support for staff over the past year.

“A lack of fee income, cited by over three in five organisations, means these increasing costs are difficult to fund. We are therefore seeing more and more providers close down some parts of their organisation or hand back marginal contracts and services to their local authority.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We are committed to ensuring people receiving care can access the support they need during this difficult time.

“To support social care workers’ wellbeing, the government has invested over £1.4bn in adult social care, on top of £4.6bn for local authorities to address pressures on public services, free PPE and increased staff testing.

“We have also worked with the NHS and other organisations to develop a package of psychological and practical resources, including ‘Our Frontline’, which is a source of information and emotional support for those in need.

“Delivering a care system that is fit for the future remains a top priority and we will bring forward proposals for social care later this year.”

However, Gavin Edwards, senior national care officer at Unison, said the help offered had been insufficient.

In a statement to The Independent, he said: “From the early days of the pandemic when ​many care staff needed help with testing, sick pay and protective kit, they were met with disdain and indifference.

“It's little surprise they're facing a mental health emergency. The government must ​now develop a support package specifically for care staff. It's the least ​it can do.

“Exhausted, traumatised workers can't be left to prop up the creaking care system. It's important money is invested now to keep it afloat.

“But only total reform will solve the problems baked into the sector. The government must build a national service ​to mirror the NHS, with quality ​care delivered by well-regarded, well​-rewarded staff.”

Professor Martin Green, head of Care England, a charity which represents care providers, said many workers were “beyond exhausted” and needed more help. He echoed Unison’s demand for an NHS-like approach.

“A big part of that objective is delivering a 10-year plan for the sector ... which enables us to provide the recognition, pay structures, resources and career paths for social care staff,” he said in a statement to The Independent.

“We are indebted to them and I want to pay tribute to all those who have worked, and indeed continue to work so hard, throughout this pandemic.”