Page 58 - Unfair To Care 2024 - Who Cares Wins

SECTION 8: MOBILISING THE SOCIAL CARE VOTE
THE RESULTS WERE STARK...65
95%of adults in England believe that social care workers are
important to society
Social care is shown to have strong parity of esteem with NHS workers, who 98% of respondents said are important to society.
In a new question introduced for this year’s poll, respondents were asked whether they felt social care workers were underpaid, overpaid, or paid about the right salary. 61% believe they are underpaid, with only 13% believing they are paid the right salary for their work.
87% believe that social care shortages are either
a very big (38%) or significant (49%) problem. Only 1% of respondents do not believe that the shortages are a problem at all.
Demonstrating the growing sense of parity between social care and NHS workers, 70% said social care workers should earn the same as NHS workers doing a role of equivalent skill, complexity, and responsibility. Our 2023 polling, conducted with Ipsos, found 61% support for this same question.
87%recognise the shortage of social care workers as a problem for society
61% believe social care workers are underpaid
70%believe that social care workers should earn the same salary and
benefits as equivalent NHS
The opinion poll found that more than half of respondents would have a more favourable view of political parties that commit to improving social care terms and conditions. Just 2% of the polled participants stated that they would have a less favourable view of parties that improve pay.
This sentiment will have many roots – including the
greater appreciation for social care workers following the pandemic and the impact of campaigns like Unfair To Care. However, perhaps the greatest stimulus for recognising
the need for change is simply that the endemic social care workforce challenges are affecting so many people.
53%
OF ADULTS IN ENGLAND WOULD HAVE A MORE FAVOURABLE VIEW OF A POLITICAL PARTY COMMITTED TO IMPROVING PAY AND CONDITIONS FOR SOCIAL CARE WORKERS
65. Detailed results can be viewed at: https://ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/documents/CommunityIntegratedCare_SocialCare_240110_W.pdf 58