Scoping Review Highlights Impact of COVID-19 on Social Care and Workforce
A recent scoping review led by researchers from The University of Manchester and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration Greater Manchester (ARC-GM), in the British Journal of Social Work, explores the evidence around the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on social care and social work in the United Kingdom.
Out of ninety-seven articles retrieved, the final analysis from thirty-nine articles outlines the psychological impact among professionals in the sector from December 2019 to May 2023.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns about staffing levels and high workloads within the social care sector were widespread. This scoping review highlights the increasing challenges faced during the pandemic, particularly related to:
- the working environment
- recruitment
- retention
- insufficient support for management
The review argues that the COVID-19 pandemic intensified existing difficulties, placing further strains on an under resourced social care system and the social care workforce to deliver services.
The scoping review also suggests the importance of comprehensive strategies to address the psychological well-being of social care professionals, improved support for management and the development and establishment of a coherent pathway for future planning.
The findings derived from the evidence, call for a holistic approach to ensure the resilience and effectiveness of the social care workforce in the living with COVID era.
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Read more about the SECURE Study
Published: 31/01/2024