A sufficient, skilled and sustainable social care workforce is essential in providing high quality, person centred care to vulnerable residents living in South West London.    However, there are considerable challenges in achieving this with chronic problems in recruiting and retaining a skilled workforce to a sector characterised by low pay and low status alongside intense competition from other sectors.

The number of vacancies in social care in South West London is already high and without concerted action will be further exacerbated as increasing demand for care services is estimated to create a further 10,000 jobs by 2035. 

SWL Social Care Workforce Strategy

The six South West London boroughs of Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton and Wandsworth have collaborated and with wider partners to develop a strategy setting out how their joint action will support the development of a more sustainable social care workforce in South West London. The report developed by SCIE and Skills for Care can be found here.