Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health to detail any steps he is taking to fill adult social care worker vacancies.
Minister of Health: A number of actions are being taken to address vacancies across the social care workforce which are informed by the Social Care Workforce Strategy 2025–2035. This work focuses on attracting people into social care, supporting those already working in the sector to remain and develop their careers, and continuing to promote social care as a worthwhile and rewarding career.
A key element of this approach is the regional Making a Difference campaign, led by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council in partnership with a range of stakeholders. The campaign raises awareness of the diverse social care roles available and the positive impact this work has on people’s lives. Vacancies exist across both adult and children’s services and cover a wide range of roles within the statutory, community, voluntary and independent sectors. The campaign, alongside other activities such as engagement with schools and colleges, helps to highlight the diversity of opportunities, flexibility and career progression available within the social care sector.
The Department also continues to engage through the Fair Work Forum, which plays an important role in promoting fair pay, terms and conditions for social care workers. This focus on fair work is central to improving the experience and status of the workforce and is an important factor in making social care a more attractive sector, supporting longerterm efforts to reduce vacancies.
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