Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to help (a) recruit and (b) retain a social care workforce in Cumbria.

The Government recognises the scale of the reforms needed to make the adult social care sector attractive. We are committed to ensuring the adult social care workforce feels supported and recognised, and that there are opportunities to develop and progress, all of which contributes to recruitment and retention. This includes: delivering the Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme; the continuing development of the Care Workforce Pathway; a universal career structure for the workforce setting out the knowledge, skills, values, and behaviours needed to work in adult social care; and launching a new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification.

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 will engage and consult those who draw upon, work in, and provide care and support, as well as local authorities, unions, and others from across the sector, and this work will be an important part of the first step towards a National Care Service.