Ministers must address affordable housing shortage to fix Cumbria’s social care staffing crisis - MP

On the floor of the House of Commons this afternoon, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron urged Health Ministers to work with the Department for Housing to address the lack of affordable homes which is exacerbating the social care staffing crisis in Cumbria.

Speaking during Health and Social Care Questions in Parliament, Tim said: "In the Lakes, we have a problem with social care: although the people working in the care industry are phenomenal, talented and dedicated, the average age of the population is 10 years above the national average, so the number of people who need to be cared for is greater and the size of the workforce is smaller.

"Undoubtedly, poor pay, poor conditions and a lack of career prospects are a major problem in recruiting and retaining the care staff that we need.

"We also have a special problem in our area because of the absence, or indeed, the evaporation, of the long-term private rented sector, which is where the carers normally would have lived.

"Will the Minister talk to her colleagues in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to make sure that we have a comprehensive package for communities such as mine in Cumbria, so that we have well-paid carers and places in which they can afford to live?"

Responding, the Minister for Social Care Helen Whately said: "The honourable. member makes a really important point.

"I will say two things. In the short term, we are supporting social care with £500 million through the discharge fund this winter.

"That will go into increasing capacity in social care and addressing some workforce challenges in areas such as his. In the long term, we are introducing social care reforms, including in the workforce.

"One thing we need to look at is ensuring that housing is available for the social care workforce."