Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help improve the recruitment and retention of care home staff.

The Government recognises the scale of reforms needed to make the adult social care sector attractive, to support sustainable workforce growth and improve the recruitment and retention of the domestic workforce.

We are introducing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement to the adult social care sector so that care professionals are recognised and rewarded for the important work that they do.

We are supporting the professionalisation of the adult social care workforce, including through the expansion of the Care Workforce Pathway to a further four roles, including registered manager and deputy manager roles. The Pathway sets out how people can develop a long-term career in adult social care, with the right support and training to help attract people to join and remain in the sector.

We are also continuing to fund the Adult Social Care Learning Development Support Scheme to help people build their skills and careers in care. The scheme is backed by up to £12 million this financial year and includes qualifications to enhance the quality of care more broadly, as well as opportunities to develop leadership and management skills.