Research led by BNU’s Professor Jermaine Ravalier finds that wellbeing of social care workforce is below UK average
Earlier this year, BNU’s Head of School for Health and Social Care Professions, Professor Jermaine Ravalier, led a project funded by Social Care Wales, delivering a ‘Have Your Say’ survey to workers in the social care sector.
With the results released this week, the survey found that the wellbeing of social care workforce is below UK average. And while the survey did include some positive indicators, including a rise in feeling valued by colleagues, the people they support, managers, partner agencies and the public, wellbeing and pay remain a concern across the social care sector.
The survey was carried out between January and February 2024 with a total of 5,024 social care workers responding from a wide range of roles.
The survey asked questions about things such as health and well-being, pay and conditions, and what people like about working in the sector. This year, questions were added to focus on things such as bullying, harassment and discrimination, to get a deeper understanding of workers’ experiences.
Professor Ravalier said: “I am delighted to have been leading the 2024 Social Care Wales ‘Have Your Say’ survey and deep dive into the social care workforce in Wales. In it we focussed on reasons for working (leaving, and staying) in social care, terms and conditions, wellbeing, working conditions and more. It has been a year of working closely with Social Care Wales and British Association of Social Workers, as well as Bath Spa University.
“We see that social care workers love their role, and go into it to make a difference in the lives of those in their local communities. However, we also see that pay and terms and conditions can be difficult, and that wellbeing and working conditions need greater support.
“I’m looking forward to how this work is taken on by Welsh government and policymakers, and to working with Social Care Wales and British Association of Social Workers on the 2025 survey.”
Professor Ravalier’s wider research looks at the health and wellbeing of health, allied health, social care, and social work professionals. In the recent past, Jermaine has been funded by the Department for Health and Social Care and ESRC to develop interventions to support the psychological health and wellbeing of social workers and NHS employees.
Since joining BNU in February 2024, Jermaine has been successful in two funding awards, including £150,000 to support the ‘Have Your Say’ survey for Social Care Wales, and a £500,000 NIHR award in September 2024 alongside colleagues at Bath Spa University, Edge Hill University, and the Open University, to develop Best Practice Guidance for the recruitment and retention of social workers in coastal communities in England.