Unmet need for care at home trebles

The number of hours people are not getting care at home trebled from last year, rising from 80 to 250 hours in April due to a care staff shortage in Argyll and Bute, the region's chief social worker has told councillors.

 

‘All organisations are finding it increasingly challenging to attract and retain staff,' said David Gibson, the chief social work officer for Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership in a report to the full council on Thursday November 24.

 

'Home care can enable older people to remain safely at home when they may otherwise be unable to cope. Local authorities have a duty to provide or arrange 'Home Care' support to people who need this.

 

'The necessary targeting of statutory support towards those with critical levels of need has resulted in a gradual reduction in the numbers of older people receiving local authority funded home care.

 

'In April 2021, 1,123 people aged over 65 years were in receipt of care at home support. This figure has reduced to 1,043 in 2022. However the level of unmet need has increased from 82 hours ‘unmet need’ in April 2021 to 253.5 hours of unmet need, and 114.8 hours of partially met in April 2022.

 

'Use of agency staff across the areas has enabled some additional capacity within the system. However several recruitment drives have resulted in few, if any applications for care at home posts. Redesign and collaborative commissioning models are required for care at home.’

 

Addressing the staff shortage later in the report, Mr Gibson continued: 'The major workforce pressure is undoubtedly recruitment and retention. Much of the £682,000 underspend on Social Work Services is the result of vacant posts.

 

'There are simply not enough social workers and social care workers at a national level. Successful recruitment in one part of the organisation can simply mean a new gap in another part.

 

'Posts are often being filled by newly qualified social workers who have completed courses during the pandemic, many have not had statutory social work experience, some have had mainly ‘virtual’ placements. Given the right context and nurturing support these people will develop into valued and competent staff. Nevertheless that still leaves us with an immediate issue.

 

'As vacancy levels rise the load increases on remaining staff and in particular experienced staff. Modest rises in the hourly rate of pay for social care staff are quickly outstripped by rises in the hospitality and other industries.'