Joe Desmond, Director from Recruit2Care, explores whether the government’s latest social care reform proposals will truly address the sector’s urgent workforce crisis or risk becoming yet another well-meaning initiative hindered by poor execution.
The government’s latest announcement on adult social care reform has sparked a range of reactions across the sector. With promises of increased investment, technology driven care, and workforce development, the proposal is ambitious. Yet, from the perspective of those of us on the front lines—recruiters, providers, and care professionals—the announcement raises a pressing question: Will this initiative bring meaningful change, or is it another well intentioned plan that falls short in execution?
The Core Crisis: Recruitment and Retention
Workforce recruitment and retention are the sector’s most pressing challenges. While the government’s plans to introduce clearer career pathways and expanded responsibilities are welcome, these initiatives alone cannot resolve the sector’s deep rooted issues. Without addressing low pay and difficult working conditions, recruitment efforts will continue to struggle.
Recruiters consistently report that care professionals are leaving for better paid, less demanding jobs in other sectors. Although career progression initiatives may offer long term benefits, they must be paired with immediate pay increases, improved working conditions, and robust mental health support to stabilise the current workforce. Without this, the risk of high staff turnover will persist.
Expanding Roles: Opportunity or Overburdening?
The proposal to expand the duties of care workers to include health interventions such as blood pressure monitoring is an interesting one. In principle, this could improve outcomes by reducing unnecessary trips to healthcare facilities. However, this must be implemented thoughtfully. Adequate training and compensation for additional responsibilities are essential if this initiative is to succeed without exacerbating already high levels of burnout.
Prevention and Technology: A Double Edged Sword
The emphasis on prevention—keeping people out of hospital and living independently for longer—reflects a broader shift in health and social care policy. Prevention is undoubtedly a worthy goal, but its success depends on adequate resources being available at the community level. Technology can play a key role in this effort, particularly through better data sharing between the NHS and social care providers. However, such systems need to be user friendly and properly integrated into the care workflow to avoid creating additional administrative burdens.
A Commission With Potential—But Will It Move Quickly Enough?
The establishment of an independent commission offers a unique opportunity to build consensus around a National Care Service. However, the timeline – recommendations expected by mid 2026 – has raised concerns. Given the sector’s urgent needs, waiting years for actionable reforms is risky. Many have called for accelerating the commission’s work and implementing parallel short term measures to address the immediate crisis.
Key Recommendations for Immediate Action
To stabilise the adult social care sector, several targeted actions must be urgently implemented. Emergency funding should be directed to local authorities to address pressing service demands and ensure continuity of care. Additionally, regulatory reforms are crucial to reduce the administrative burden on care providers, thereby allowing them to focus more on delivering high quality support to those in need. Expanding tailored support programs for unpaid carers is also essential, given their invaluable yet often under recognised contributions. Lastly, accelerated deployment of user friendly technological solutions, accompanied by comprehensive staff training, can improve service efficiency without imposing additional strain on the workforce. These immediate steps aim to complement long term structural changes by addressing critical short term challenges.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that the government’s vision for social care reform is ambitious, and if delivered, it could mark a turning point for the sector. However, success will require more than promises and long term plans. It demands immediate, decisive action to address the current crisis, alongside sustained efforts to build a National Care Service that is fair, sustainable, and centered on the needs of those who draw on care and those who deliver it.
As we enter the new year, we urge policymakers to adopt a dual track approach: bold long term reform coupled with urgent short term intervention. The sector cannot afford to wait until 2028 for meaningful change.
recruit2care.co.uk