Page 20 - Unfair To Care 2024 - Who Cares Wins

THE FINDINGS – A SKILLED, ACCOUNTABLE, AND COMPLEX ROLE
SECTION 4: THE RESEARCH
Korn Ferry’s analysis clearly indicated that the Support Worker role in social care is significantly undervalued, when compared to comparable and even less challenging roles in both the public and private sectors. With a score that surpassed many higher paying roles, the role of Support Worker in adult social care was found to be significantly accountable, complex, and skilled, with uncommon vocational qualities.
For clarity, we have provided a sample of roles in the public and private sectors which offer a yardstick for the ‘size’ of the Support Worker position.
ROLE
AMBULANCE PARAMEDIC
POLICE CONSTABLE
HIGHER LEVEL TEACHING ASSISTANT
SUPPORT WORKER – SUPPORTED LIVING/CARE HOME HEALTHCARE ASSISTANT HIGHER (NHS BAND 3) POLICE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFICER
NURSERY PRACTITIONER
CLEANSING OPERATIVE
CHECKOUT WORKER
SCHOOL CROSSING ASSISTANT
Korn Ferry’s deep dive into the working routines and practices of Support Workers demonstrably proves that the stereotype of ‘low-skilled work’ is wrong and unjust. It shows that social care work requires:
Specialist skills – including understanding the specific needs, behaviour, and emotions of the people they support.
Rare characteristics – including innate empathy and patience.
Accountability – colleagues work in a highly consequential environment, which is heavily regulated, and take on significant personal responsibility.
Physical effort – including working long shifts, delivering physically demanding tasks – such as providing personal care and facing disrupted sleep when working ‘sleep-ins’.
Adapting to environmental challenges – such as exposure to unpleasant conditions, e.g. contact with bodily fluids, noise, and shouting.
Facing emotional demands – including exposure to physical aggression or supporting end-of-life care.
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