Quarter of social care staff leave within three months, watchdog finds

A quarter of social care staff in Scotland leave their jobs within three months, while vacancies are at their height, a report has found.

The bodies responsible for delivering health and care services across the nation, known as Integration Joint Boards (IJBs), are grappling with a projected funding gap that is up by 187 per cent.

The Accounts Commission, a watchdog, has warned of “unprecedented pressures” on IJBs amid dwindling funds and surging demand for services.

IJBs play a crucial role in planning and commissioning essential community-based health and care services across Scotland. Their remit includes supporting disabled adults, social work with the elderly, GPs, pharmacists, mental health care and drug and alcohol services.

The report also underscored an “unsustainable” dependence on Scotland’s estimated 800,000 unpaid carers.

Colin Poolman, Scotland director of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said: “This damning report sets out the challenges facing community health and social care services. Too often, the focus is on the crisis in acute hospitals, but hospital overcrowding is a symptom of the lack of investment and prioritisation of community services. The whole system is at breaking point.”

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Source: The Times, 25 July 2024 (paywalled)