Methodist Homes (MHA), the largest charity care provider in the UK, is on a mission to “fix care for all”. Their Campaigns and Public Affairs Officer, Luke Buckland, explains how you can help support their aims.

It’s no secret that the social care sector is in crisis, with many people not getting the help they need. Nearly half a million people nationally wait just to have their care needs assessed. Meanwhile, on an average day there 152,000 staff vacancies.

The latest State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England Report (12 October) shares some positives for the sector – particularly with workforce capacity increasing over the past year. However, it also identifies the ongoing trend of people leaving the social care profession. Better pay and working hours, alongside access to relevant training and qualifications, were identified as critical factors that would help to retain staff in the future.

That is why we are campaigning for the Government to “Fix Care For All”.

We urgently need an independent body that will represent care workers and ensure they receive the recognition and status they deserve… one that will help to raise the quality of care older people receive, by driving up standards and pay.

That’s the thinking behind our call for the funding and creation of a Social Care Council, as part of our Fix Care For All campaign. The Council would act as an independent body representing the 1.5 million people working in social care – examining pay scales, accreditation, training and recruitment, and investing more into changing public perceptions around what it means to choose care as a profession.

We will continue to support Skills For Care as it develops its workforce strategy to meet current recruitment and skills gaps, but with more people set to rely on social care in the next ten years and fewer people entering the workforce, the Government must do more to ensure people can feel the merits and rewards of a long-term career in care.

Julie, who works at an MHA retirement living scheme, shared why she supports this campaign: “Carers work so hard, and they just don’t get recognised for it. That needs to change”

We also know that residents are also passionate that care staff are properly valued. Amanda said: “The staff are really helpful and they are doing a great job. They work really hard, helping us in any way they can. But they’re undervalued and need to be paid a bit more”

We need your help to fix care for all, so that every older person can live later life well and care workers are truly valued.

Click here to find out more about our campaign and to sign our petition