New data has revealed the UK’s care workforce is in crisis, facing rising rates of staffing issues and hiring freezes throughout the sector.
For young carers throughout the UK, the situation is equally as dire. More than half of young carers can’t get a regualar break from caring, with many left without support, according to the Carers Trust charity.
Seren Jones, from Cheshire, cares for her older sister Finnlay, who has a rare genetic condition called Warsaw Breakage Syndrome and requires daily care. The condition affects people in different ways, from hearing loss to growth and bone defects. For Finnlay, one of the biggest challenges is communication.
Seren said how much more needs to be done for carers in the UK: “There’s honestly so much more that needs to be done to properly support carers, especially young carers who often go unnoticed.”
“The first thing that needs to change is awareness. People need to understand what being a carer actually means, it’s not just helping someone every now and again – it’s a full time responsibility that affects every part of your life.”
Seren, 22, has been caring for her sister for as long as she can remember, supporting her day-to-day with social skills, money management, appointments, and making sure she’s looked after with her general health and wellbeing. She said how little support carers are given:
“To be honest, I’m not sure about what support is out there, because I’ve always just got on with it myself.”
“There needs to be more spaces where carers, especially young carers, can just go and be themselves, get support, and connect with others who understand.”
“A lot of carers, especially young ones, don’t realise how much caring affects their ability to work or earn. Caring takes up so much time and energy that fitting in a job can feel impossible, and even when you can work, it’s often part time or with restrictions.”
Workforce shortages, underfunding, and a failure to implement long-term policies have left care systems under mounting pressure, meaning carers like Seren aren’t able to access respite services or adequate support.
Areas like Manchester face a disproportionate burden on health and social care services due to links between deprivation and health inequalities. A new programme introduced by Salford City Council looks to lessen the pressure on the region’s care workforce shortages, whilst providing employment for local people.
The Salford into Care initiative, introduced in October, is a structured programme intended to create high-quality skills solutions for employers, while increasing career opportunities for local people, especially those in priority groups.
Cllr Teresa Pepper, lead member for Skills, Work and Business support, said: “Salford into Care is a shining example of how we’re creating inclusive employment pathways for our residents. By working closely with trusted partners like the Northern Care Alliance, we’re transforming the lives of people who want to enter the care sector.”
The programme intends to support participants to gain a career in the caring industry, whether already experienced or new to caring. Opportunities for participants are flexible across hospital, community and domiciliary care settings.
Despite positive progress within Salford, the UK care industry continues to be under pressure. Chris Dingley, from Manchester, has worked in caring for 25 years, now working to recruit foster carers. He talked about the pressure the system is under due to poor staffing.
“We used to turn a lot of people away, that nowadays would be snapped up… there’s a lot of competition to recruit carers”
“There really isn’t a solution. You’ve got huge agencies looking for carers, local authorities looking for carers, if you were to ask me what would help – it would be better support for carers.”
For now, young carers like Seren are forced to “get on with things” themselves, hoping that more support is offered over time. Despite the lack of assistance, Seren maintains:
“I honestly wouldn’t change it. She’s my sister and my best friend, and we’ve built such a close bond through it all.”