Anisa Byne, Director of Marketing, Access Health, Support and Care
With the ageing population, workforce shortages and the lingering impacts of Covid-19, there has never been more urgency for fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. The care sector is facing multifaceted challenges, ranging from ensuring high-quality care and developing sustainable funding models to embracing technology.
At The Access Group, we believe that a culture of change can be facilitated by providing platforms for open dialogue and discourse. To this end, we have created an environment where thought leaders can come together to dissect and discuss the intricacies of care provision. Our new podcast series, ‘Redefining Care,’ offers listeners a chance to delve into candid conversations that challenge the status quo and surface possible solutions.
As the podcast host, I feel privileged to present a platform where thought leaders in the field come together to discuss and design a future for social care in the UK, but also learn from international best practice and examples.
Our series launched in August with an incredibly insightful interview with Professor Vic Rayner OBE, CEO of the National Care Forum. Vic articulated the priority of ensuring that social care providers are integral to decision-making processes, with a clear focus on placing the people who use care at the core of our strategies. With her extensive experience and knowledge, as chair of the government’s Strategic Advisory Forum on the social care workforce and co-chair of the National Social Care Advisory Group on social care and technology, she discusses the necessity of supporting our social care workforce and highlights insights from global care sector developments.
Elevating the role of care workers
One of our most heartfelt discussions was with Karolina Gerlich, CEO of the Care Workers Charity. Reflecting on the charity’s provision of more than £4.5 million in grants to nearly 7,000 care workers since 2020, she shed light on the harsh realities many workers face. She passionately spoke about care workers’ immense sacrifices – from living away from their families to navigating challenging working conditions and enduring extended hours. This dedication underscores the need to acknowledge the value of care work and the essential role care workers play in our society.
Adding to the narrative, Martin Green, CEO of Care England, emphasised the need for more robust integration between health and social care. With nearly 30 years in the UK care sector, Martin accentuated the importance of long-term funding, sustainability, and increasing the appeal of careers in care to attract a motivated and skilled workforce. In our discussion we unravelled the complexities of raising the status of the care workforce and overcoming deep-rooted barriers to integration between health and care.
Embracing personalised care
Amrit Dhaliwal, CEO of Walfinch, further expanded the discourse by focusing on the future of home-based care. Drawing on his journey to becoming the leader of a successful care business, Amrit discussed the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services’ report, which highlighted a sharp increase in adults waiting for social care – from 294,000 to over 500,000 in just a year. This alarming trend necessitates a renewed focus on how we perceive and deliver home-based care, which utilises technology’s potential to drive personalised care solutions.
The ‘Redefining Care’ podcast’s expert perspectives, reinforce our commitment to facilitating holistic discussions about social care. By bridging gaps, acknowledging challenges, and highlighting potential solutions, we aim to equip those involved in care provision with insights to help propel the sector forward.
At a time where a culture of innovation is imperative, we invite you to tune in and be part of these transformative conversations that explore how we think and what we do about social care.
#RedefiningCare
Find out more about the Access Group ‘Redefining Care’ podcast here:
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