Today the adult social care sector adds £55.7bn p.a. to the economy in England — up 8.5% in 2021-22.

But there are huge workforce gaps. In 2022, 390,000 people left their roles in care, and 440,000 new people are needed in the workforce in the next 15 years.

The national “Made with Care” recruitment campaign is underway to fill the gaping hole of 150,000 current vacancies.

But beyond the immediate crisis, the challenge is immense. The ambition is there. So, what next for care work?

The Innovate UK-funded Healthier Working Lives (HWL) programme has been on a three-year mission to understand care workforce innovation challenges and has gained valuable insights, IP and propositions ready to share with the care sector to make an impact.

To examine what next for the care workforce, join experts from care, innovation, enterprise and policy, who will share their views on the future of one of the UK’s most valuable sectors.

There are a limited number of tickets available. Please sign-up as soon as possible.

Event programme

17.30 – 18.00 | Drinks and Networking

18:00 – 18.45 | Part 1 — Understanding current care work challenges

• Chair’s welcome – Jonathan Slater, former Permanent Secretary and Visiting Professor, King’s College London
• Care workers: Healthy ageing and working lives – Jakov Jandric SHAW Project, University of Edinburgh and Linda McKie, HWL Principal Investigator, King’s College London
• Reflections on adult social care workforce reforms — Michelle Dyson, Director General for Adult Social Care, Department of Health and Social Care
• What next for the Healthy Ageing Challenge – George MacGinnis, Director, Healthy Ageing Challenge
• Q&A Panel discussion

19:00 – 19.45 | Part 2 — Innovation, investment and action

• Intrapreneurial care workforce — Steve McCreadie, CEO, The Lens

• Investing to innovate — Nic Palmarini, Director, National Innovation Centre for Ageing

• Research into action — Annette Boaz, Director, Health and Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King’s College London

• What Next for the care workforce — Linda McKie, HWL Principal Investigator, King’s College London

• Q&A Panel discussion

19:45 – 20:30 | Drinks and networking