Oonagh Smyth CBE is Chief Executive Officer of Skills for Care, the strategic workforce planning and development body for adult social care in England. Here, she addresses the adult social care workforce on the importance of taking part in the Adult Social Care Workforce Survey.
This is an important time for adult social care. The Prime Minister has been clear about his commitment to supporting the workforce: the government is taking forward the Fair Pay Agreement and looking at the wider changes needed to make social care an attractive and rewarding career, including progression opportunities, training and better support for staff.
People working in adult social care know the job better than anyone. You know what makes it rewarding, what makes it difficult and what would make your working life better.
That is why we want to hear from you.
The Adult Social Care Workforce Survey is an opportunity to share your experiences directly with the Government. The survey is open to anyone who works in a care-related role in adult social care in England. Whether you work in a residential or domiciliary setting – as a care worker, a personal assistant, a manager, or a regulated professional (e.g. nurse, occupational therapist) - your voice matters.
Your experience can help shape what comes next
To make good decisions for tomorrow’s social care workforce, we need strong evidence about the realities of working in the sector today. The survey is your opportunity to help the Department of Health and Social Care understand what is working well, where the pressures are and what needs to improve.
Your voice will inform what the government does next to support the workforce.
Tell us what working in adult social care is really like
There are no right or wrong answers. We want your honest experience, including the positive parts of your work and the challenges you face.
The survey asks about the issues that can affect your day-to-day working life, including:
- your pay, employment conditions and financial wellbeing
- your workload and wellbeing
- your experiences in the workplace
- training, skills and career development
- what encourages you to remain in adult social care
- what might make you consider leaving.
You may also have heard about Baroness Casey’s Big Conversation on Care. The two exercises complement each other but have different purposes. The Big Conversation invites everyone in England to discuss the bigger questions about the future of adult social care, whereas this survey focuses on the experience of working in care in detail. Each will provide different evidence to inform the future of adult social care.
Why your response matters
The more people who take part, the stronger and more representative the evidence will be. Each response adds to our understanding of working life across adult social care and helps show where change and support are most needed.
Do not assume somebody else will have the same experience or raise the same issues. Your perspective is unique, and without it, part of the picture will be missing.
Your responses will be kept confidential and reported alongside those of other participants. You will not be identified in the survey findings.
Take part in the survey
If you work in adult social care in England, please add your voice:
Take part in the Adult Social Care Workforce Survey – it takes just 20 minutes.
If you are a manager or employer, please encourage everyone in your organisation to participate and support them to complete the survey during working hours.
The future of adult social care should not be shaped without the people who work in it. Make sure your experience is part of the conversation.
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