Karolina Gerlich, Chief Executive at The Care Workers’ Charity, explores why true diversity and inclusion in adult social care means centring care workers’ voices, valuing their expertise, and ensuring they are represented in shaping the future of the sector.
In adult social care, people are at the heart of everything we do. Yet too often, the voices and wellbeing of care workers themselves are overlooked, especially when it comes to diversity and inclusion.
The care workforce is one of the most diverse in the UK. Care workers bring with them a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, ages, and experiences. According to the Work Rights Centre, as of November 2024, migrant care workers occupy around 32% of roles in England. Many care workers also belong to communities that face wider inequalities, whether women balancing caring responsibilities at home, LGBTQIA+ care workers seeking acceptance in the workplace, or disabled care workers managing conditions alongside their professional responsibilities.
This diversity is not a challenge to be managed; it is a strength to be celebrated. When care workers feel valued and included, everyone benefits.
Inclusion cannot be reduced to policies written on paper. It must start with creating spaces where care workers can speak openly about their challenges and aspirations, without fear of judgement or repercussions.
At The Care Workers’ Charity, we see every day the difference that active listening makes. Through our Advisory Board and Champions Project, care workers have a national platform to share their perspectives directly with policymakers, researchers, and sector leaders. Their insights on recruitment, workplace culture, and wellbeing show us that inclusion must be embedded in every part of the system.
Too often, conversations about adult social care assume a one-size-fits-all understanding of care work. But care workers are not a homogenous group. They bring with them a wide spectrum of identities, experiences, and expertise.
For inclusion to be meaningful, care workers must see themselves represented in the discussions, policies, and research that shape the future of the sector. This is not symbolic, it is essential. Representation builds trust, demonstrates that care workers’ voices matter, and ensures that the true diversity of the workforce is reflected in how adult social care is understood, valued, and developed.
Care workers also face harmful stereotypes. Too often, the profession is dismissed as “low-skilled” or defined only by compassion rather than expertise. These narratives are damaging, not only to care workers’ morale but also to recruitment and retention.
Inclusion means ensuring that every care worker is recognised as a professional, bringing knowledge, skill, and dedication to their role.
To support this, The Care Workers’ Charity, together with our Advisory Board and Champions members, co-produced Centring Care Workers: A Guide. This publication provides a practical framework for understanding how care workers themselves want to be involved in sector conversations.
The guide makes clear that inclusion is not only about policy or processes, but also about ensuring that care workers’ voices are embedded in decision-making at every level. By using the guide, providers, policymakers, and researchers can better understand workforce perspectives, create meaningful opportunities for engagement, and ensure that care workers feel represented in shaping their roles and the future of adult social care.
Diversity and inclusion in social care cannot be an afterthought. They must be at the centre of building a sector where care workers feel proud, motivated, and secure, and where people drawing on care receive the best possible support.
Care workers are the backbone of social care. By celebrating who they are, listening to their voices, and investing in their futures, we not only improve their working lives, but we also strengthen the care system itself. Because when care workers are valued, everyone benefits.
