Our CEO Zak Houlahan and Campaign 4 Change spokesperson, Mary Woodall, have both given interviews included within the 2024 Sector Pulse Check report.
The report is an annual snapshot of the workforce and financial health of the adult social care sector. Produced jointly by learning disability charity Hft and Care England, the 9th iteration was launched at Portcullis House on 14 January before an audience of MPs, policymakers and media.
This year, the report continues to shed light on the workforce and financial pressures facing providers and makes two key recommendations to the Government:
- To commit to a credible, multi-year funding settlement for adult social care in the 2025 Spending Review, to financially support providers who have suffered years of underfunding, and ensure future funding accounts for wage increases, inflation, and National Insurance contributions.
- A fully-funded plan to support the workforce and bring care workers’ pay and conditions in line with their NHS counterparts, arguing that status and respect are just as crucial as wages to make care work an attractive career for the next generation.
Large scale data
The interviews provided by Mary and Zak provide valuable insights from both a person drawing on support and a for-profit support provider. Their candid viewpoints bring into sharp focus the issues that shortfalls in funding and workforce are generating.
More than 200 providers contributed to the Sector Pulse Check survey enabling the sector to present large-scale data to the Government. In turn, this helps to monitor trends and illustrate the nature and scale of the sector’s—and the Government’s—challenges.
Stability and continuity
In his interview Zak says: “What gives me real hope is the collaboration happening across the sector. CEOs from both for-profit and non-profit organisations are coming together, not just to highlight problems but to advocate for solutions. But we can’t do it alone—without proper government investment, some providers will face incredibly difficult decisions. That’s why we need sustainable, meaningful support to keep delivering the life-changing care that so many people rely on.
“Growing up, life wasn’t easy—poverty and instability shaped much of my early years. Local authority interventions and people who believed in me helped me move forward, and that’s why I feel so strongly about providing stability and continuity of care for people we support.
“Stability and care can be life-changing, and for those we support, our homes are much more than just buildings—they’re their entire lives.
“Of course, there are challenges. Costs are climbing by 9% to 10%, but fee uplifts from local authorities are lagging far behind at just 5% to 6%. It doesn’t add up, but we’re meeting these challenges head-on. We’ve empowered our managers, redesigned how we work, and created clear pathways for our team members to grow. By doing so, we’ve reduced agency use to just 4%, ensuring the people we support benefit from consistent, familiar faces every day.
“For me, this work is deeply personal. I’m determined to ensure we provide the stability and continuity that can transform lives, no matter the challenges ahead.”
Independence and full lives
Mary is a hardworking, career-minded woman who happens to have a learning disability and draws on social care. Mary lives an active life, with support provided by Achieve together.
She says: “My name’s Mary, and I live in supported accommodation. I’m really passionate about making sure that people like me, especially those with profound and multiple learning disabilities, can live as freely as possible. When we don’t have enough support workers, it directly impacts our quality of life. We’re here to gain independence, but many of us need help with achieving our goals, doing activities and practical daily life, and that support isn’t always consistent if we have to rely on agency staff.
“I believe if support workers were paid more, we’d have more consistent and reliable support, which would help us become even more independent. It’s really hard when a support worker you’ve built a relationship with leaves—they know your routine, and you trust them. Starting over with someone new takes time and can be unsettling.
“There’s talk of a 10-year plan to improve things, but I think we need action much sooner—now! This is urgent. We all deserve to lead full, independent lives, and that means valuing and supporting the people who make that possible.”
Read the report on the Care England website.
View and share the Sector Pulse Check video.
