Professional Care Workers’ Week 2023
September 18 – September 22
What is Professional Care Worker’s Week?
Professional Care Worker’s Week is a celebration of all care workers and the essential work they do, created to promote awareness and raise the profile of care workers across the UK.
Care is a highly skilled profession, but care workers do not get the advantages of being seen as professionals. The current workforce crisis, with vacancies at 165,000 on any given day, means we desperately need this to change.
Why are Care Worker’s so important?
- Support for Vulnerable Individuals: Carers provide critical support to individuals who may be vulnerable due to age, illness, disability, or other circumstances. They help with daily activities, personal care, and emotional support, enabling these individuals to maintain a good quality of life.
- Promoting Independence: Carers often play a key role in helping people remain as independent as possible. They assist with tasks like cooking, cleaning, medication management, and mobility, allowing care recipients to live in their own homes.
- Emotional Well-Being: Carers don’t just address physical needs; they also provide emotional support and companionship. This can significantly improve the mental and emotional well-being of those they care for, reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness.
- Reducing Healthcare Costs: Carers can help reduce the burden on healthcare systems by preventing unnecessary hospitalizations or long-term care placements. Their assistance can lead to better health outcomes for their care recipients, ultimately saving healthcare costs.
- Supporting Families: Carers often provide support to family members, allowing them to continue working or maintain their own well-being. This helps families cope with the challenges of caring for a loved one.
- Enabling Social Participation: Carers enable their care recipients to participate in social and community activities, fostering a sense of belonging and engagement. This contributes to a more inclusive society.
- Advocacy and Awareness: Carers often become advocates for the rights and well-being of the people they care for, raising awareness about specific conditions or issues and advocating for policy changes that can benefit their communities.
In summary, carers are essential contributors to society, providing crucial support, care, and companionship to those in need. It is important to recognise the diverse skillset that people bring to the role and the amount of responsibility they take on. It’s about more than a qualification or certificate – it should also come with appropriate remuneration above the Real Living Wage, opportunities to develop and progress, easy movement between providers and importantly, recognition of their immense value to society.
Professional Care Workers’ Week is an opportunity to raise the profile of care workers in the UK and showcase the fantastic work they do, while providing opportunities for learning and sharing best practice.