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.

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

20.30 | Close

Healthier Working Lives for the care workforce is an Innovate UK-funded programme led by King’s College London in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, Codebase, Creative Venue, Scottish Care, Legal & General and the University of Reading.

What next for care work? A symposium on futures