100,000 vacancies in our care system

I've found Filippino nurses and carers to be very well trained and actually just plain kind! I'm a big fan.

While I'm not keen on talking about different cultural approaches, there are cultures where caring and nursing and respecting the elderly are much more valued than they are in our own.Where whites tend to judge the value of a job by the pay, & write-off care as a career (it's a lot more skilful than for eg delivery work) I think phillipinos get a lot of self-respect out of doing a really important job well & making a difference, & that's something it wouldn't hurt us to emulate.
Of course the wages should go up, but wow that's difficult given the shortage of care spaces & funding issues bedevilling the system right now.

Burnham has talked about the very poor pay in the care system, so it is something the government recognises.

I agree Aveline, they have been a huge asset to the NHS.

There does need to be an overhaul of the care system to make it more attractive. I don’t personally think we should be looking primarily to school leavers or under 25s though, as life experience usually makes people the best carers. Middle aged people are often ideal, but it needs to fit in with their other commitments, and pay well enough to be a worthwhile occupation compared with the alternatives.

The CQC - Care Quality Commission - needs to be shaken up if not replaced with a more robust organisation that doesn't - rather like Ofsted - hand out one word ratings, and also has extended powers to deal with failing care homes more rigorously.

OP- Yes, Yes and Yes Cossy.

Margs 11.35- also Yes!

The profits made by owners, investors and financial companies are huge and are made at the expense of the workers who are poorly paid for the jobs they do.

The whole of the care system needs better, far more robust, regulation.

I agree about the Filipino nurses.

About a third of care home are owned by big companies like Barchester and BUPA. In total 84% are privately owned. We are paying far more than we should for care, getting poor quality care for our family members and care workers are underpaid, IMO this is about regulation and needs government intervention not a free market.

Average UK Care Home Costs (2026)

• Residential Care: £1,298 per week (approx. £5,192 per month or £67,496 per year)
• Nursing Care: £1,535 per week (approx. £6,140 per month or £79,820 per year)
• Residential Dementia Care: £1,343 per week (approx. £69,836 per year)
• Nursing Dementia Care: £1,564 to £1,585 per week (approx. £81,328 to £82,420 per year)

Casdon

I agree Aveline, they have been a huge asset to the NHS.

There does need to be an overhaul of the care system to make it more attractive. I don’t personally think we should be looking primarily to school leavers or under 25s though, as life experience usually makes people the best carers. Middle aged people are often ideal, but it needs to fit in with their other commitments, and pay well enough to be a worthwhile occupation compared with the alternatives.

I have worked in care with many carers under 25 who were absolutely exemplary in their attitude and work ethic. In the right environment, with ongoing training and guidance young people can flourish in the care industry.

It's the person that counts, not their age.

I agree foxie48, but I think it’s about more than just regulation, because even where care is provided through Local Authorities, which are highly regulated and better paid, recruitment to care roles is a major challenge.

Care is seen as a route into support worker roles in the NHS, where the terms and conditions are better, it’s a large workforce and it’s more likely the workers can find hours that suit them, and where they aren’t taking sole responsibility. I don’t think we should underestimate how alone care workers in the community feel, either, it really isn’t an easy job, and that level of responsibility put people off.

Privately owned care homes is a big challenge that any plans for a National Social Care service will need to address, reform and change.

This was discussed on an earlier thread. It can be addressed, but will need head on, strong, determined policy driven approach by AB to achieve reform. He will need to set policies to prioritise public funding provision non profit or cooperative, charity or LA care homes. This would restrict and reduce for profit care providers to running their services solely for patients.clients who choose not to access National Care Service funding placements.

Recruitment is an issue now and will be for any Social Care Reform/National Service. Full workforce strategy required that incorporates all necessary aspects, recruitment and retention, training and fair pay structures.

Many ducks to get in a row.....