SOCIAL CARE STILL A ''FULFILLING CAREER''<br>

Despite the pressures facing those working in the social care sector, new
research conducted by The Guardian shows that a career in social care is still a
satisfying and attractive option. An overwhelming 84 per cent of those working
in the social care sector find their careers extremely fulfilling and 98 per
cent agree that they are extremely committed to their job. Sixty five per cent
would still choose to go into social care if they were starting their career
now.

However 86 per cent agree that society generally undervalues the work of people
in social services and 71 per cent agree that their lives are made difficult by
excessive red tape. This was particularly true of those working in Primary Care
Trusts (PCTs), 76 per cent.

By 2004 PCTs will control three quarters of the NHS budget for England, taking
increased responsibility for social care spend. Staff are clearly uncertain and
uninformed about the major changes taking place in the health and social
services. Sixty per cent of respondents felt they were not well informed about
the emerging role of PCTs, while those working in voluntary organisations and
local authorities felt most in the dark. Alarmingly less than half, 47 per
cent, of those working for PCTs felt well informed about the reorganisation.

Two years ago the Government signalled its intention to deliver social services
in new settings such as GPs surgeries, with social care staff working alongside
GPs and community health workers as part of a single local care network. Now
these changes are underway the majority of social care staff, 60 per cent, felt
uncertain as to how it would affect them. Local authority staff were most
anxious, 66 per cent.

Overall training provision in the sector is good, with 78 per cent of staff
agreeing that they have received sufficient training to deal with the demands
made upon them.

As for changing careers, local authority staff appeared to be the most restless.
Twenty one per cent said they would definitely consider it as opposed to 11 per
cent of those working in the voluntary sector. At the same time 21 per cent of
local authority workers definitely would not contemplate a move outside social
care.