People working across adult social care are being encouraged to share their experiences through a major national workforce survey that will help inform future decisions about pay, training, career development and workforce support.
The Adult Social Care Workforce Survey 2026 is now open, giving people working across social care the opportunity to share what it’s really like to work in the sector at a time when national attention is focused on the future of adult social care and the workforce that underpins it.
Commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the survey aims to build a clearer understanding of the experiences of people working across adult social care, from frontline care workers to managers and registered professionals.
Thousands of people took part in the previous workforce survey, helping to create evidence that is already informing policy, investment and workforce support across the sector. This year, the Government is hoping to hear from even more people working in adult social care to ensure as many voices as possible are represented.
Oonagh Smyth, Chief Executive Officer at Skills for Care, said:
“There is growing public recognition right now of the vital role the adult social care workforce plays and the need to improve support for the people working in the sector.
“As the Government looks at how to strengthen the workforce through improvements to pay, training and support, it’s essential that the experiences of people working in adult social care are part of the conversation.
“This survey gives everyone working in social care the opportunity to tell it how it is. Whether someone feels positive about their role, is facing challenges, or a mixture of both, every experience helps build a clearer picture of what’s working well and where further action is needed.”
Participants will be asked about a range of topics including their role and working life, wellbeing and support at work, training and development, career plans, and what influences people to stay in or leave adult social care.
The survey also explores issues such as pay, workload, financial security, workplace culture and career development, helping to provide a comprehensive picture of workforce experiences across the sector.
The findings will contribute to ongoing efforts to understand the challenges and opportunities facing the adult social care workforce and help inform future workforce policy, funding and support.
The survey is being conducted by Ipsos, in partnership with Skills for Care and the University of Kent, on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
All responses are confidential and will be reported anonymously. Ipsos will not share individual responses with employers or workplaces, and no analysis will be carried out at employer or organisation level.
The survey takes around 20 minutes to complete and is open to anyone working in adult social care in England.
People can complete the survey on the Ipsos website or contact Ipsos on 0800 157 7794 to complete the survey by telephone.
