Suffolk care workers will protest in Ipswich today to highlight the need for more workers for the vital service.
Unison said care workers will be taking the action outside Endeavour House ahead of Suffolk County Council's meeting and asking councillors to support a motion from Labour councillor Sandy Martin seeking more investment in recruitment and retention for social care.
Mr Martin’s motion also asks the council to identify pay levels for the county’s care workers that would stem the flow of staff leaving the sector.
Data from national agency Skills for Care showed the number of adult social care vacancies in Suffolk increased by half between 2021 and 2022.
Mr Martin's motion says: "Shortage of care workers in residential and domiciliary care is leading to a backlog of unmet care needs.
"This has resulted in an increase in delayed transfers to care from hospitals, and vulnerable people being left in their own homes without the full care packages they need.
"Adult & Community Services Revenue Budget for the current year now has a projected underspend of £2.8 million, partly as a result of the inability of care providers in Suffolk to provide the staff and thus the care which Suffolk County Council had budgeted for."
Unison’s Eastern regional organiser Winston Dorsett said: “Social care has been limping along close to collapse for years. It’s barely able to handle the twin blows of the pandemic and cost of living crisis in such quick succession.
“People who love their jobs and love making a difference for Suffolk’s most vulnerable residents are flooding out of the sector because they just can’t afford to live on the wage any more.
“Suffolk County Council recognises there’s a problem, but urgently needs to do more to support the recruitment and retention of care staff.”
Suffolk County Council’s scrutiny committee recommended in October considering costs associated with compensating home care staff for unpaid hours spent travelling and the influence of the council’s contract management process on the pay and conditions offered by providers.
Councillors also suggested targeting funds to address recruitment and retention of care workers if the council decides to collect any additional social care precept.
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