Behind every great care team: celebrating the people who choose this work

As we read through the latest Skills for Care report on the adult social care workforce, taking in the complexities of recruitment and retention in our sector, our conviction held firm: the people who dedicate their working lives to caring for others are remarkable – as are those who support, facilitate and champion that work. 

It renewed our pride in the Support Workers who dream up activities that spark joy in the people we support, the administrator who configures complicated software to meet our needs, the finance officer who makes sure everyone gets paid, and every other role at Abacus that contributes to a single mission: to meet people’s needs here and now, strengthen the relationships around them, and grow safely to support more lives into the future. 

What the report tells us 

There's genuinely good news here. The adult social care vacancy rate in England has fallen to its lowest point in a decade, and the number of filled posts is at its highest level on record. More people are choosing this work, and more are staying in it. 

But the report is honest that this isn't the whole picture. Demand keeps growing – the sector will need an estimated 410,000 extra posts by 2040 just to keep pace with our ageing population – and the routes that have helped fill posts in recent years, particularly international recruitment, are narrowing fast as visa rules tighten. 

So the question shifts from how do we recruit more people? to how do we keep the right people? That's the part within our control, and the part that's actually about people, not numbers. 

Katie Ghumania – HR Manager 

Katie, who's worked in this sector for almost ten years, on what staff retention actually looks like: 

“It's positive that vacancy rates are at their lowest in a decade, but with so many people in our community needing care, that's unlikely to reflect the reality of the recruitment challenges we still face. Recruitment and retention in adult social care is complex, especially when it comes to recruiting the right people – we always want to make sure we're bringing in people who share the values that are essential to delivering the high-quality care Abacus strives for. 

Enabling the people we support is our top priority, but we also know the best care is delivered by employees who feel supported in their own roles. At Abacus, we want our employees to have job satisfaction, pride in their work, and real opportunities to develop and grow. 

With our new HR team, we're dedicated to building a recruitment and retention strategy that does exactly that – while never forgetting our amazing colleagues who continue to show unwavering dedication to Abacus' vision: a world where people with support needs know and feel they belong, contribute, and thrive at the heart of their communities.” 

Ashleigh Williamson – Talent Acquisition Advisors 

Ashleigh, on what makes a great hire and what's exciting about building the team right now: 

“When we're hiring, we look for a genuine passion for care, not just experience on paper. 

Right now, I'm excited about growing the team because you can see the genuine dedication that the whole team puts into their day-to-day roles, and the passion everyone has to improve lives and provide support for those who need. The business growing is only going to increase the amount of people we can support, and that's what spurs us on! 

The thing I most admire about the people already on our team is not only the drive, but the selflessness. Everyone is ALWAYS happy to help. 

If you're someone who is looking for greater job satisfaction, and is genuinely passionate about improving lives, we'd love to hear from you.” 

The people behind the numbers 

We're grateful to Skills for Care for the work that goes into this research – it matters that sector leaders and policymakers can see clearly what's happening in one of the country's most vital industries. But as a relatively small provider, our focus is closer to home. 

It's the new starter who's already learned exactly how the person they support likes their tea. The team member who checks in with their colleagues and helps out where they can. The quiet, steady presence that turns a supported living ‘service’ into a proper home. Whatever the national figures say, that's the story we recognise – and the one we're proud to tell. 

To anyone who shares the values we do – we're recruiting right now. We'd love to hear from you if you're ready to be part of our story.