Priory welcomes launch of new workforce strategy for adult social care

Priory, the UK’s largest independent provider of mental health and adult social care services, has welcomed the launch of a new workforce strategy for adult social care led by workforce development body Skills for Care.

It aims to improve the quality of roles in adult social care, ensuring that the sector can attract and keep enough people with the right skills and values to provide the best possible care and support for those who need it. The strategy also highlights the impact of social care on improving lives as well as its role in supporting economic growth.

Although the strategy was not commissioned by government, it highlights how the sector wants to work with the new government as it develops its plans for social care, and follows the launch of Priory’s election manifesto which outlined a number of key priorities for the government around social care.

Jayne Stutt, chief people officer at Priory, said: "The workforce strategy for adult social care set out by Skills for Care in collaboration with the sector - including us at Priory - is very welcome and importantly outlines not only the significant challenges ahead but also the means by which they can start to be overcome.

"Its timing is extremely pertinent following the general election and provides an opportunity for the new government to really take heed of the situation and work with those in the sector to develop the solutions required to make positive and lasting change.

"The strategy sets out the direction of travel needed and a range of actions to help get there, with heavy focus on pay and terms and conditions as well as investment in training and clear career pathways which is something we fully support and are committed to ensuring.

"We believe unequivocally that care is a career and ensuring fair pay and formalising career pathways is desperately needed to attract and keep people in adult social care roles – and we have demonstrated our commitment to that.

"Our minimum rates of pay for healthcare assistants and support workers have been equivalent to the Real Living Wage since 2022 and we have established clear career pathways by identifying and standardising the responsibilities and skills needed for individual roles – and making sure training is in place to support colleagues to move to the next level.

"Alongside upwards progression into more senior roles, we are also providing opportunities for colleagues to develop specialisms in their existing roles and broaden their knowledge base which will be integral to enhancing the skills of the sector.

"Recognition of the wider issues that exist is essential to delivering change and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with partners across health and social care to offer insight and support that will help ensure a sustainable future for those working in the sector and a more effective, caring and compassionate system for everyone."

ENDS

Contact: [email protected]

About Priory and MEDIAN Group 

Priory is the UK’s largest independent provider of mental health and adult social care services. Priory treats more than 70 conditions, including depression, anxiety, addictions and eating disorders, as well as children’s mental health, across its nationwide network of sites. Priory also supports autistic adults and adults with a learning disability, Prader-Willi Syndrome and brain injuries, as well as older people, within specialist residential care and supported living facilities – helping as many people as possible to live their lives.

Priory is part of the MEDIAN Group, the leading European provider of high-quality mental health and rehabilitation services. The MEDIAN Group comprises: Priory in the UK with 290 facilities and 5,000 beds caring for 28,000 people, MEDIAN in Germany with 120 facilities and 20,000 beds caring for around 250,000 patients, and Hestia in Spain with 15 facilities and 2,100 beds caring for 11,000 people in Spain, with more than 29,000 employees across the group.