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Responses to calls for evidence (May-July 2022)

The Centre for Care team submitted evidence from May to July 2022 to five wide-ranging government inquiries relevant to social care and unpaid carers

UK Houses of Parliament at night time

The Centre for Care team submitted evidence from May to July 2022 to five wide-ranging government inquiries relevant to social care and unpaid carers:

  1. House of Commons Health & Social Care Committee inquiry: ‘Workforce: recruitment, training and retention in health and social care’
  • Our submission focussed on analysis by Tom Hunt, of the lessons learned from the introduction of the mandatory COVID 19 vaccine for care home workers in November 2021. The submission highlighted that care work is characterised by low pay, high job insecurity and limited opportunities for training and progression.  
  • Professor Shereen Hussein contributed to a report prepared by invited experts, ‘Expert Panel: Evaluation of Government’s commitments in the area of the health and social care workforce in England’, also published in July. This report includes a submission based on the practice wisdom of our PhD student Nick Morgan, summarising issues which impact on the wellbeing of care workers.
  1. House of Lords Adult Social Care Committee inquiry: ‘Lifting the veil: removing the invisibility of adult social care’.
  • We submitted written evidence from our research as well as the lived expertise of our non-academic partners including Sheffield Carers Centre, Sheffield Young Carers, SADACCA (Sheffield and District African Caribbean Community Association), SACMHA Health & Social Care, and Sheffield Voices.
  • Our team also gave invited oral evidence to the inquiry: in April, Professor Sue Yeandle gave expert testimony on supporting unpaid carers to remain in employment; and in June, Dr Kate Hamblin gave evidence on the role of digital technology in care.
  1. House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS) inquiry: ‘Connected tech: smart or sinister?’
  • Our submission draws on Kate Hamblin’s research, part of the Centre’s Digital Care research theme, on the potential of smart technology to contribute to wellbeing and sustainability in social care, while acknowledging potential risks and inequalities.
  1. Northern Ireland Department of Health consultation on the Reform of Adult Social Care
  • Professor Catherine Needham submitted a response on behalf of the Centre, focused on proposed changes in Northern Ireland to the adult social care market, the care workforce, personalisation, prevention and support for unpaid carers.
  1. House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee inquiry: ‘Post-pandemic economic growth: UK labour markets’
  • The team submitted evidence drawing on our research and the lived experience of care workers on shortages of workers in social care; the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the sector; workers’ rights and protections; and the impact of the ageing population.
Becky Driscoll Researcher, University of Sheffield

About the author

Becky joined the Centre for Care in June 2022 as a Research Associate, working closely with Professor Sue Yeandle. Her role is to ensure that our research makes a difference to care policy, using our evidence to respond to parliamentary inquiries and government consultations across the four nations of the UK. This will include working closely with the team to gather evidence on critical and emerging issues in care, as well as synthesising the grey and academic literature and engaging with our partners in the care sector.