THE CARER | SUMMER 2019 | PAGE 9
Gen Z: The Answer To Staff Shortages In The Care Industry? A study conducted last year revealed that the level of vacant roles and turnover rates within the care sector are the highest they’ve ever been. One of the main factors for this is the ageing population - more people are reaching ages 85+ and are suffering from more complex health issues. Higher levels of dependability means the need for social care services is intensifying and there isn’t a large enough workforce to meet this demand. The population of people aged over 65 is forecast to increase by 40% by 2035 and as a result, an additional 650,000 jobs will be required to meet this demand. Almost a quarter (24%) of the current workforce are aged over 55 - meaning that they are likely to retire within the next 10 years - a harsh reality that is putting more pressure on staff shortages. So why not target and utilise a younger generation? Enter Generation Z - a generation renowned for their dedication to hard work, loyalty and desire for independency and job stability. As it stands, there are currently over 110,000 vacant roles within the care industry, alongside an estimated turnover rate of 30.7%. The high level of staff shortage is putting the sector in crisis and adding increased pressure on an already overstretched industry. People are entering care at a younger age more recently - whether this be to retirement villages, assisted living or aged care facilities - and employment levels are failing to meet the necessary requirements. So, what can employers be doing to attract and retain staff within the care industry? Gen Zs’ unique traits should encourage employers within the care industry to adapt and explore new avenues to fill worker shortages. In this article, Blueleaf discusses the challenges and potential solutions faced by the industry, what can be done to meet the demands of the staff shortage crisis and how to attract Gen Z to a career within care.
UNDERSTAND RECOGNITION IS THE KEY TO RETENTION
It is clear that employers are struggling to find, recruit and retain suitable people to the sector and within specific roles. Recognition is the key to retaining staff - by recognising and rewarding hard work, your workers will feel valued. Feeling valued, recognised and respected is within some of the top reasons for employers staying at their current place of work, so is definitely an aspect to take advantage of. Unlike millennials, who enjoy working collaboratively as a team and sharing successes, Gen Zs prefer to be judged on their own achievements and have their individual talents recognised and showcased.
DITCH ZERO HOUR CONTRACTS AND AGENCIES
A quarter of the workforce (25%) were on a zero-hours contract (335,000 jobs), and as Gen Zs crave job security, this is not an appealing aspect to them. Not only do zero hour contracts encourage a low sense of commitment and collaboration amongst workers, they also offer a huge income risk and uncertainty of what a worker will earn month to month.
The Care Show 2019
Caring is a rewarding career but it’s not without its difficulties. Get free expert guidance tailored to the unique challenges of working in the care sector at The Care Show 2019. The Care Show provides expert-led CPD accredited conference sessions, hands-on training, the latest technology and solutions and networking opportunities to help you provide the best possible care. It can often feel like you’re too busy to take time out, but spending just one day at The Care Show will help you save time through efficiencies and finding the best possible
Due to such a high level of staff shortages, many care establishments are turning to agencies for temporary staff. This is an expensive and tedious process and one that can be avoided with sensible hiring decisions. According to Thomas International, the average cost of recruiting a new employee is circa £30,000, so is a large cost in an industry with such high turnover rates. Recruiting and retaining competent staff will not only reduce costs but will boost productivity. If people within the care industry work hard at repositioning it as a rewarding and viable career options amongst Gen Z, the need for zero hour contracts and agency staff will slowly deteriorate; which will reduce costs and boost productivity.
PROVIDE RELEVANT TRAINING
In addition to offering permanent and stable working hours, Gen Zs are also looking for an employer who can provide structured career progression. This generation has grown up in a world where everything is customisable; through the click of a button, they can identify their personal preferences and mould their experiences to suit these and this is an attribute they are looking to adopt within their career. As well as feeling recognised and valued, career growth, learning and development is an important factor amongst talented employees - so promoting this within a care career amongst Gen Zs is advantageous. Gen Zs are less money-driven than millennials and are looking for more than just a salary, making them the ideal candidates for a role within care. They are seeking meaningful jobs which will offer opportunities for advancement alongside the opportunity to learn new skills.
CONSIDER THE BENEFITS OF UTILISING SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS
This generation is more tech-savvy than their millennial predecessors, so take advantage of this to enhance productivity. Older generations are reluctant to change and don’t want to switch to electronic systems; administrative work hinders employee’s ability to focus their attention on residents, but certain software solution systems have the ability to strip out old paper-based processes. Adopting and implementing cloudbased solutions and other forms of technology to enhance productivity, encourage employee well-being and increase productivity is definitely something to consider. Care management software solutions can help to reduce the pressure on employees by assisting with budgeting, day-to-day care planning, new client assessments, electronic care planning and record keeping. The staff shortages aren’t just related to direct care roles, which make up 76% of jobs within adult social care, there are many vacancies within managerial roles such as line managers and supervisors, as well as care and ancillary staff - within both local authorities and the independent sector. This reality means that the staff shortages are causing an impact on patient care and is a problem that needs to be solved sooner rather than later. Repositioning the care industry and the various different roles as a valued, rewarding career option amongst Gen Zs is one step towards solving the staff shortage.
solutions for the future. Registration is now open to join over 3,300 care providers on 9th-10th October at the NEC, Birmingham for the UK's largest completely care focused event. This year there are some exciting new opportunities including: • Get advice on boosting your CQC rating in the dedicated Business, Compliance and Regulation Theatre. • Gain more time to care by integrating new technology, or motivate staff, in the Technology and People Theatre. • Home Care has a bigger focus – We are
delighted to announce UKHCA are incorporating their England Care Conference into the Care Show, meaning there is more content, more suppliers and more specialists to help this growing sector. • Join dedicated care home managers and owners, as we share best practice and information from across the sector. Gain access to The Care Show 2019 by registering now for your FREE conference pass at - https://www.careshow.co.uk/dbh. We look forward to welcoming you to The Care Show in October. See the advert on page 19 for details.
DripAssist™ Infusion Rate Monitor The award winning DripAssist™ is the simplest IV infusion management device. DripAssist™ makes it simple to be in control of IV infusions with required accuracy and precision. DripAssist™ monitors and manages IV gravity drips easily, simply and quickly without expensive infusions pumps. It is portable, easy to set up and can be used with any tubing set and size. Calibration and maintenance are not required, and you can learn to use the DripAssist™ in less than 5 minutes. DripAssist™ is an innovative device that counts IV drops accurately for constant and reliable monitoring of the IV infusions. An alarm alerts you, if the drop rate changes or when the infusion bag is
empty. The monitor always knows the exact volume infused, hence enables safe and precise IV medication dosing. DripAssist™ is accurate and always reliable and helps you manage IV drips speedily and without loss of valuable nursing time. Affordable, cost-effective and simple to use, the DripAssist™ monitors and manages specialty and traditional IV drips for safe and accurate IV medication dosing in a wide range of care settings and across different healthcare environments. DripAssist™ improves patient safety and increases therapeutic successes of intravenous infusions. Supplied by Win Health Medical Ltd 01835 864866 - www.win-health.com See the advert on page 7 for details.
National Health and Safety Conference for Social Care ATTEND THE CONFERENCE FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH HEALTH & SAFETY IN SOCIAL CARE
Wed 11th & Thurs 12th September 2019 Expert Speakers : Share Best Practice Networking : Safety in Care Awards Suppliers Exhibition : Interactive : Breakout Sessions
Discuss : Debate : Engage
Further details,venue,booking:-
www.nashics.co.uk e: events@nashics.org
t:
07840 160 030
Striving to promote excellence of safety and health in care services.