Nurse recruitment increasingly difficult in social care, finds report

Pay disparity, limited access to professional development and a ‘systemic undervaluing’ of social care nursing is driving nurses out of the sector, a report has warned.

Scottish Care, a representative body for independent social care services in Scotland, has examined the state of the social care nursing workforce in the country as part of a new report published this month.

Drawing on a survey of 48 care organisations employing almost 800 nurses, the report uncovered a workforce that is ‘under sustained pressure, marked by persistent recruitment challenges, fragile retention, and rising stress levels’.

Three-quarters (75%) of respondents reported difficulty filling nursing vacancies and 79% said registered nurse posts were the hardest to fill.

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More than a quarter (27%) said that nurse recruitment had become more difficult in the last year.

The survey, which was carried out in July, outlined several barriers to recruitment, including: insufficient supply of nurses (48%); better opportunities elsewhere (42%); and pay rates (39%).

Employers were also asked about the state of nurse wellbeing – with 37% of respondents reporting increased stress levels among the profession. Only 7% suggested this had decreased.

A further 19% said they had seen an increase in nurse sickness absences.

Organisations suggested that better pay (65%); more training and development (65%) and more professional-to-professional support (55%) would help support nurse wellbeing.

The report also explored international recruitment of nurses and found that ‘administrative and financial barriers are significant’.

Of survey respondents, some 21% said international recruitment had become harder in the last year, and that barriers included: visa and application processes (59%); cost of recruitment (56%); home office practices (41%) and retention concerns (11%).

According to Scottish Care, systemic barriers such as a pay disparity with the NHS, lack of tailored professional development, and restrictive immigration policies were all ‘undermining workforce stability’.

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And its report warned that without urgent action, ‘these issues will continue to impact continuity of care, hospital discharges, and the wider health and social care system’.

The report said that the issues identified were ‘deeply embedded in structural inequalities, including pay disparity with the NHS, limited access to professional development, and systemic undervaluing of social care nursing, which are shaping the journey of nurses into, through, and out of social care’.

Scottish Care is calling for:

• Pay parity with NHS roles to stem attrition.
• Funded and accessible training/CPD designed specifically for social care.
• Targeted and accessible entry routes for new and returning nurses, including improved Return to Practice pathways.
• A fairer immigration system that supports international recruits.
• Investment to reduce agency reliance and ensure safe staffing levels.

Dr Donald Macaskill, chief executive of Scottish Care, said: ‘This report shines a stark light on the reality facing social care nurses across Scotland.

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‘For too long, they have been undervalued, underpaid, and unsupported despite the skilled, complex and essential care they deliver every single day.’

He added: ‘Unless we address pay inequality with the NHS, invest in proper training and career development, and create fair pathways for international recruitment, we risk losing an irreplaceable workforce.

‘The future sustainability of our health and social care system depends on a strong and respected nursing profession in care homes. We cannot afford to ignore this crisis any longer.’