Participants will engage with KCL researchers and tech start-up mentors to explore practical strategies for creating more time to care for the workforce, supported by insights from our latest research from across both 'Healthier Working Lives' and the 'En-Route to Recovery' project.
As is well known across the sector, adult social care faces a deepening crisis - marked by underfunding, undervaluation of care work, and high staff turnover. Yet, through our research in the South-East and Scotland, we’ve encountered remarkable organisations that are achieving real success in retaining staff and implementing multiple practical, low or no-cost strategies to support their workforce.
Our findings show that what matters most to care staff is having adequate time to deliver quality care and prioritise the ‘caring’ aspects of their role. This commitment not only keeps them in their jobs despite challenges but also enhances workforce satisfaction, improves client outcomes, and raises the overall quality of care when combined with supportive leadership.
We know that having enough 'time to care', encouraged through a supportive leadership culture, directly improves retention, creates a more positive experience for the workforce and clients, and leads to a higher quality of care. But how are the 'well-led' organisations doing this practically, and how can we promote or generalise these ideas in a sustainable way?
If you’re interested in learning more or would like to request an invitation, please reach out to caitlin.bawn@kcl.ac.uk for further details. Together, we can explore practical resources to support the workforce and improve care quality through sustainable, innovative practices.