NMC responds to Skills for Care adult social care workforce report

Commenting on the report, Donna O’Boyle, Acting Executive Director of Professional Practice at the NMC, said:

“We welcome this detailed report from Skills for Care into the adult social care workforce. It’s positive to see growth in filled posts and vacancy rates returning to pre-pandemic levels. However, as reflected in our own registration data, a key driver of that growth – international recruitment – has already begun to decline. Meanwhile, the number of posts filled by people with British nationality has fallen sharply, down by 30,000 in the last year. That impacts on continuity of care and adds pressure to services already stretched to meet rising demand.

“This is a timely report, with the government’s 10 Year Health Plan in England seeking to shift care into community settings. But the numbers in today’s report make clear that a truly community-centred model demands a stronger, more sustainable domestic pipeline.

“That journey must begin with education and continue through career-long development. We need more students choosing social care nursing, supported by high-quality placements in the sector that build vital skills and confidence. Investing in continuing professional development and fostering positive workplace cultures is equally important to strengthen the retention of experienced professionals – whose expertise is a lifeline for people across the UK.”

Further information

• The NMC contributed to the first ever placement strategy for social care nursing, which aims to position social care as a placement of choice for nursing students.
• The regulator has updated its Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment (SSSA) supporting information, to enable Registered Care Home Managers to act as practice supervisors, which increases the breadth of practice learning experiences available to students, including in social care.

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