Skills For Care Leaders Visit Saint Cecilia’s Care Homes To Discuss Challenges Facing The Social Care Sector
Senior representatives from Skills for Care recently visited two local care homes and the Head Office of Saint Cecilia’s to meet with staff, residents and senior leaders, discussing the growing pressures facing the social care sector – including ongoing international recruitment challenges.
On Friday last week, Tristram Gardner, Deputy CEO of Skills for Care, and Nichola Greenwood, Locality Manager, visited Normanby House and Saint Cecilia’s Care Home. During the visits, they spent time speaking directly with frontline care teams and residents, gaining first-hand insight into daily life within the homes and the dedication of the staff who support them.
Conversations focused on the increasing demands on social care services, workforce pressures, and the impact of national policy changes on recruitment and retention. A key topic was the growing difficulty around international recruitment within the UK care sector, which has become a vital pipeline for staffing in recent years.
The visit also included a meeting at Head Office with Saint Cecilia’s Managing Director, Aaron Padgham, where wider strategic discussions took place about workforce sustainability, training, and the long-term future of social care.
Aaron Padgham, Managing Director of Saint Cecilia’s Care Group said:
“We were delighted to welcome Tristram and Nichola and to have open, honest conversations about the realities facing social care. International recruitment has played a crucial role in supporting our workforce, and any further restrictions could have a significant impact on the sector’s ability to deliver safe, high-quality care. It’s vital that the voices of providers, staff and residents continue to be heard at a national level.”
The visit follows recent national news coverage by Saint Cecilia’s Chairman Mike Padgham, who has spoken publicly about the serious risks facing care providers due to financial restrictions in the sector impacting recruitment both nationally and internationally and the urgent need for social care reform to ensure services can continue to meet rising demand.
Tristram Gardner, Deputy CEO of Skills for Care added:
“It’s incredibly important for us to spend time in services, listening to staff and understanding the challenges they face. The passion and commitment of care teams is clear, and we must ensure the system supports them through strong workforce planning, investment and sensible policy decisions.”
