Untapped Opportunities: Building Meaningful Careers in Social Care

Social care is one of the UK's most important sectors. It supports millions of people to live independently, helps families when they need it most and plays a vital role alongside the NHS.

Yet while public understanding of the value of social care is growing, many people still don't see it as a career for themselves.

Bluebird Care's first Care Index Report explores why.

Drawing on nationally representative polling alongside insights from Bluebird Care colleagues across the UK, Untapped Opportunities: Building Meaningful Careers in Social Care explores how adult social care is viewed today and what needs to change to build the workforce of the future.

The findings challenge long-held assumptions and highlight an opportunity to encourage more people to see social care as a profession where they can build meaningful, long-term careers.

Report highlights

The Care Index found that:

• 74.2% of people said they would be proud to tell others they work in adult social care.
• 73.7% disagreed that adult social care is low-skilled work.
• 83.5% believe care professionals should be treated as skilled professionals in the same way as NHS staff.
• 40.4% said they would consider a career in adult social care if there were clearer opportunities for career progression and professional development.
• Yet only 31.8% said they would currently consider working in paid adult social care.

Together, these findings suggest there is growing respect for the profession, but more needs to be done to show people the opportunities available to build a career in care.