Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage the recruitment of social care workers.

The Government recognises that adult social care employers can struggle to recruit and retain the right number of staff with the right values and skills and that vacancy and turnover rates across the sector are high. We are committed to working alongside employers and stakeholders in adult social care to grow and develop the workforce, with the values and skills to deliver high quality, compassionate care.

The Department has invested £7 million over the past two years in a national recruitment campaign designed to raise the profile of adult social care, encourage potential applicants to apply for job vacancies, and highlight opportunities for career development and progression. Through our continued funding of Skills for Care, we have also provided a range of practical support and resources for providers to help attract, retain and develop staff.