Care workers feeling 'burnt out' and agency staff costs are 'unaffordable'

Care workers across Rochdale are feeling ‘burnt out’, fewer people are staying in the job and agency staff costs are sky high, a report has revealed.

The council is struggling to keep care home staff and are finding it difficult to recruit new people, according to a recent report from the Assistant Director Adult Social Care Commissioning and Prevention, Hayley Ashall. Care workers are seeing longer hours, increased number of shifts and dealing with heightened pressure that has gone beyond the pandemic, papers suggest.

This has led to ‘burn out’ as well as more sickness due to some staff members not being able to afford time off for being unwell - leading to increased spreading of viruses, the report claims.

READ MORE: Man suffers 'life-threatening' injuries in Middleton Shopping Centre attack

The Enhanced Care Home Model Overview report read: “Staff shortages result in further pressure on the existing workforce. Research shows that a high proportion of carers will also be impacted by the cost of living crisis, again possibly leading to further stress to the workforce.

“This can lead to a sense of disenchantment in current roles, increased absence through sickness as well as the possibility of staff becoming so disenfranchised they leave the industry altogether.

“Some care workers cannot afford to be off and will attend work when unwell, passing illness to colleagues and risking the health of the people they support.”

It went on to say that fewer staff in the field means that the cost of agency staff has been “driven to almost unaffordable levels”.

Currently, Rochdale Council commissions 54 residential social care services across the borough as well as 412 nursing beds from across nine homes with nursing services.