To ask the Minister of Health what action he is taking to address the workforce crisis in social care.

The Department of Health has established the Adult Social Care Collaborative Forum and the Children’s Strategic Reform Board both of which seek to deliver reform and transformation in Health and Social Care. Within both of these Forums, there are workstreams focused on supporting, developing and improving the social care workforce.

These workstreams are implementing a range of measures that include:

Publishing a Social Care Workforce Strategy. This will set out a vision to develop a sustainable social care workforce over the next 10 years. It will support the development of the social care workforce and build pride and professionalism across the social care system in all sectors. The strategy will include actions to develop career pathways, support the training and education of the workforce, and to raise the profile and recognition of the social care workforce as a skilled and competent workforce. It is anticipated that the Strategy will be published in late 2024.

In partnership with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council, work is ongoing to develop the training, career and qualification pathways for the social care workforce.

In partnership with all stakeholders’ social care campaigns are ongoing to raise the profile and recognise the significant contribution that the social care workforce provides.

In addition to the above, the Social Care Fair Work Forum has also been established which will seek to embed Fair Work initiatives and improve the terms and conditions for everyone employed across all parts of the social care sector.