Have Your Say 2024: Social care workforce feel more valued than last year, but well-being and pay still a concern

Social care workers feel more valued for the work they do than they did last year, but their well-being is worse than the UK average according to our second annual ‘Have Your Say’ workforce survey.

As in 2023, most people who work in social care do it because they want to make a difference to people’s lives. But pay is still a concern and plays a part in some wanting to leave the sector.

We carried out this survey between January and February 2024. In total, 5,024 social care workers responded, from a wide range of roles. This was an increase of almost 2,000 on the number who responded last year.

The survey asked questions about things such as health and well-being, pay and conditions, and what people like about working in the sector. This year, we also asked more questions about things such as bullying, harassment and discrimination, to get a deeper understanding of workers’ experiences.

The research found the percentage of workers who feel valued by their colleagues (80 per cent), the people they support (80 per cent), managers (70 per cent), partner agencies (57 per cent) and the public (51 per cent) are all higher this year than in 2023. The figures for partner agencies and the public have risen from 48 per cent and 44 per cent respectively.

But we also found that workforce well-being scores were worse than the UK average, using four measures set out by the Office for National Statistics.

Between 92 and 96 per cent said they hadn't experienced bullying, discrimination or harassment from a manager, colleague or person they support in the past 12 months.

Only 35 per cent are satisfied with their pay (46 per cent dissatisfied), and 25 per cent are aiming to leave the sector. Among the people who suggested they were looking to leave the sector, the average amount of time they saw themselves staying was 13 months.

But the findings also suggest there’s been some improvement in how social care workers are coping financially. The proportion who said they were finding it 'slightly' or 'a lot' more difficult to manage financially compared to the previous year was 59 per cent – down from 82 per cent in 2023.

While there have been improvements, 23 per cent still say they’re finding it ‘quite’ or ‘very’ difficult to get by (down from 33 per cent in 2023).

Despite the challenges facing the social care workforce in Wales, 77 per cent of the people who responded to our survey said their morale was good.

This year’s survey was carried out on our behalf by researchers at Buckinghamshire New University, Bath Spa University and the British Association of Social Workers (BASW).

We split the overall results into three groups based on roles to see how each responded.

Sarah McCarty, our chief executive, said: “The results of this survey once again demonstrate the commitment of the social care workforce in Wales to making a difference to people’s lives.

“It’s fantastic to hear that people are feeling more valued for the work they do, and that morale is good for many, which shows that social care is a good place to work. But it’s vital that we learn from all of the survey’s findings to make sure the workforce feels as supported as possible.

“The changes made to this year’s survey mean we now have a deeper understanding of a range of topics, including experiences of bullying, discrimination and harassment. We’ll use the findings to guide the support and services we offer, as well as the work of partner organisations.

“I’d like to say a huge 'diolch' to everyone who took the time to complete the survey, or who took part in the research in any way. Your contributions have given us valuable insights into what it’s like to work in social care in Wales today.”

Minister for Children and Social Care Dawn Bowden said: "The dedication and hard work of our social care workforce has been clearly highlighted in this survey. It's heartening to see that, compared to last year, more of our workforce feel recognised for the essential role they play in supporting individuals and communities across Wales.

“At the same time, the survey highlights that there is still much more to be done to enhance the well-being of our workforce and ensure they receive the support they need to thrive.

“We are committed to collaborating with the sector to address the key issues identified in the report, including improving terms and conditions and overall well-being."

This year’s findings will also be used as part of the Workforce Race Equality Standard - a tool that will help monitor the experience of people from an ethnic minority background who work in health and social care in Wales. This is part of our commitment to the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan.