Government ‘to cut £250m from social care workforce funding’ in England

Ministers set to halve the £500m promised to invest in staffing of sector with more than 165,000 vacancies, report says

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Ministers are poised to cut £250m from investment in the social care workforce in England, it has been reported, in a move that could set back care “for years to come”.

With more than 165,000 care worker vacancies and low pay driving staff to quit for better wages in retail and hospitality, care providers and councils have been clamouring for investment in recruitment and retention. Inadequate staffing levels is frequently noted as a cause of neglect and poor care by the Care Quality Commission watchdog.