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Care worker scheme axed after George Osborne withdraws funding Care worker scheme axed after George Osborne withdraws funding
(8 days later)
A training scheme to create a career ladder for care workers and to address the acute shortage of nurses in care homes has been axed as a direct result of chancellor George Osborne’s spending review.A training scheme to create a career ladder for care workers and to address the acute shortage of nurses in care homes has been axed as a direct result of chancellor George Osborne’s spending review.
The scheme was due to start in the new year, but its backers were told last week that its £178,000 government funding was being withdrawn. Six other projects designed to boost opportunities for low-paid women workers have suffered the same fate.The scheme was due to start in the new year, but its backers were told last week that its £178,000 government funding was being withdrawn. Six other projects designed to boost opportunities for low-paid women workers have suffered the same fate.
Cancellation of the scheme to develop the role of care practitioner has caused dismay in the struggling social care sector, where there was already widespread anger that the chancellor had greatly oversold a supposed £3.5bn package of help for the sector that he unveiled in the review.Cancellation of the scheme to develop the role of care practitioner has caused dismay in the struggling social care sector, where there was already widespread anger that the chancellor had greatly oversold a supposed £3.5bn package of help for the sector that he unveiled in the review.
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Martin Green, the chief executive of Care England, which represents the main care home chains, said: “The care sector is in crisis, with a crippling shortage of nurses leading to the closure of nursing homes just as demand starts to soar.”Martin Green, the chief executive of Care England, which represents the main care home chains, said: “The care sector is in crisis, with a crippling shortage of nurses leading to the closure of nursing homes just as demand starts to soar.”
The scheme would have trained care assistants for a new role to take on some of the tasks of nurses, Green said. “By cutting the funding allocated for this crucial project, the government is turning its back on the elderly and dooming people to a grim future of unintentional neglect.”The scheme would have trained care assistants for a new role to take on some of the tasks of nurses, Green said. “By cutting the funding allocated for this crucial project, the government is turning its back on the elderly and dooming people to a grim future of unintentional neglect.”
Almost one in 10 nursing jobs are in care homes, but vacancy rates have risen to 9% and leading homes report an increase of 55% over the past two years in use of costly agency staff to plug the gaps.Almost one in 10 nursing jobs are in care homes, but vacancy rates have risen to 9% and leading homes report an increase of 55% over the past two years in use of costly agency staff to plug the gaps.
At the same time, estimates suggest that care providers will need to recruit up to a million more workers over the next decade to cope with growing demand. But low pay is endemic in the sector and turnover of care assistants, eight in 10 of whom are women, is running at 19%.At the same time, estimates suggest that care providers will need to recruit up to a million more workers over the next decade to cope with growing demand. But low pay is endemic in the sector and turnover of care assistants, eight in 10 of whom are women, is running at 19%.
The care practitioner idea, set up by Elizabeth Care and the University of East London, was intended to address both problems. The training scheme was due to enrol its first 75 care assistants in January after an earlier pilot in Surrey.The care practitioner idea, set up by Elizabeth Care and the University of East London, was intended to address both problems. The training scheme was due to enrol its first 75 care assistants in January after an earlier pilot in Surrey.
Start-up funding of £178,000 had been promised by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), a government quango, under a £1m programme to find “workplace solutions to the gender pay and opportunity pay gap”. But the promise was withdrawn last Thursday after the spending review.Start-up funding of £178,000 had been promised by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), a government quango, under a £1m programme to find “workplace solutions to the gender pay and opportunity pay gap”. But the promise was withdrawn last Thursday after the spending review.
Simon Whalley, a Surrey care home operator who was to chair the steering group for the scheme, said: “Having been informed that our bid [for funding] was successful, we have put all our plans in place only to find that government cutbacks have resulted in last-minute cancellation of the project. This seems to fly in the face of reason and contradict all the government rhetoric.”Simon Whalley, a Surrey care home operator who was to chair the steering group for the scheme, said: “Having been informed that our bid [for funding] was successful, we have put all our plans in place only to find that government cutbacks have resulted in last-minute cancellation of the project. This seems to fly in the face of reason and contradict all the government rhetoric.”
It is understood that the six other projects that have lost UKCES funding include schemes to develop opportunities for university catering staff, hospital cleaners and homecare workers.It is understood that the six other projects that have lost UKCES funding include schemes to develop opportunities for university catering staff, hospital cleaners and homecare workers.
A UKCES spokesperson confirmed that the gender pay and opportunity gap programme had been cancelled. This was “a consequence of the announcement made by the chancellor in his spending review regarding savings being made”.A UKCES spokesperson confirmed that the gender pay and opportunity gap programme had been cancelled. This was “a consequence of the announcement made by the chancellor in his spending review regarding savings being made”.
The spokesperson added: “We appreciate this will come as a disappointment to the seven projects involved, but hope that the commitment and enthusiasm they have shown will help generate some positive momentum on this important issue.”The spokesperson added: “We appreciate this will come as a disappointment to the seven projects involved, but hope that the commitment and enthusiasm they have shown will help generate some positive momentum on this important issue.”