Scottish-based carers shortage in D&G

ONE third of care homes in Dumfries and Galloway are being forced to recruit staff from overseas due to a shortage of Scottish-based workers. A new report has revealed that 33 percent of care home facilities in the region now rely on attracting foreign employees to fill gaps in the sector. This figure ties in with the national stats as a survey by Scottish Care found that at least 11,294 international staff now make up an average of 32 percent of the care home workforce. Nearly 7,000 of these international workers are currently employed on a visa. This region’s situation was discussed at Dumfries and Galloway Council’s social work committee last Thursday where a care home contracts monitoring report was tabled. The report states: “Thirty-three percent of care homes reported recruiting staff from overseas. “Some care home services have commenced international recruitment to help address staffing challenges. “Scottish Care Fife Network has developed an International Employers Network and discussions are to take place between Commissioning and Scottish Care Partners for an integration team to look at a forum in Dumfries and Galloway to support provider partners. “Scottish Care has actively participated in a series of engagement events facilitated by South of Scotland Community Housing (SOSCH), focused on exploring solutions for key worker housing. “At these sessions, we highlighted the significant impact that housing shortages, particularly in rural areas, are having on recruitment, with a specific emphasis on the challenges faced by overseas workers seeking accommodation.” With Dumfries and Galloway currently experiencing a severe shortage in housing, Mid Galloway and Wigtown West councillor David Inglis asked questions about accommodation provision for foreign health workers. He said: “It’s just interesting to know how that works. And if we’re actively recruiting from abroad for somebody to come and work in the social care services, do we provide them accommodation? How how do we deal with that?” Charles Rocks, the region’s depute chief social work officer, said: “Dumfries and Galloway Council doesn’t have the oversight or responsibility for that recruitment. “We commission private providers through the care home capacity, and we recognise there is a huge gap and shortfall in appropriate staff. “They’re having to go overseas and recruit appropriately to support those staff members to come into this area, and they would have the responsibilities to support them to ensure that their well-being is safeguarded.”