Transformation of the Mental Health Social Care Workforce
25 November 2024: The Association of Mental Health Providers (The Association) has announced the completion of a comprehensive three-year study on the transformation of the mental health social care workforce. This study provides crucial insights into the shifts in service delivery, workforce composition, and care models since 2021, influenced by global events and evolving healthcare needs.
Key Findings
· The mental health social care workforce is nearing historical highs, with 621,500 employees by the end of FY 23/24. However, a vacancy factor of 13,500 positions remains.
· Staff turnover rates are currently at 22.6%.
· Across 42 ICB regions, the vacancy rate is 8.5%, with some areas—such as Frimley, Nottingham, Somerset, and SW London—exceeding 12%.
· There are 3,000 vacancies in specialist roles, including occupational therapy and mental health nursing.
· Eight ICB regions reported turnover rates exceeding 40% in their specialist mental health workforce, including Bath and Northeast Somerset, Kent and Medway, Buckinghamshire, Suffolk, and Northamptonshire.
Analysis Highlights
The report identifies three distinct phases in the sector’s recent evolution:
2021-2022: COVID Response
· Surge in mental health needs due to the pandemic.
· Rapid adoption of digital and online mental health services.
· Emergency measures were implemented to address workforce shortages.
· Social care and social work support, including Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs), were crucial in providing crisis mental health support and reducing unnecessary inpatient admissions.
2022-2023: Maintaining Continuity Amid Recovery
· The workforce faced increased demand and more severe cases.
· Collaboration between providers, commissioners, and service users was essential to maintain safety and service effectiveness, despite declining public funding and rising operational costs.
· Policy goals to establish a balanced partnership between statutory services and the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector are still a work in progress.
2023-2024: Workforce Stabilisation Amid Loss of Expertise
· Emphasis on workforce diversity and cultural competency, though specialist workforce numbers continue to decline.
· Hybrid care models have shown promise, though digital exclusion remains a challenge, particularly for people with severe mental illness, minoritised communities, and those with lower socio-economic status.
Kathy Roberts, CEO of The Association, stated:
“This mapping project offers unprecedented insights into the evolution of mental health care delivery. By integrating our members’ data, Skills for Care workforce statistics, and 2021 Census information, we’ve created a detailed picture of the sector’s transformation.”
Digital Innovation
The Association’s Mental Health Social Care Mapping Tools, accessible at amhp.org.uk, illustrate the potential of digital technologies to enhance service delivery through improved data collection and analysis. These tools integrate demographic and workforce data to guide policy decisions and improve care pathways.
Looking Forward
While the VCSE sector has demonstrated resilience and adaptability, several challenges persist:
· Continued workforce shortages in rural and underserved areas.
· The need for ongoing focus on staff wellbeing and burnout prevention.
· Addressing digital divide issues in service delivery.
Stable services that ensure continuity of care for individuals with mental health needs require a skilled, resilient social care workforce across both statutory and VCSE sectors. Supporting the confidence and capability of this workforce is essential for achieving effective national guidance, regulatory standards, and local commissioning systems.
Over 1.2 million people are currently waiting for community-based mental health, learning disability, and autism services. The social care sector is an essential partner in reducing these wait times and expanding access to care.
The Association remains committed to advancing the mental health workforce through data-driven insights and policy recommendations.
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Note to editors
The Association of Mental Health Providers is the representative body for voluntary and community-sector mental health organisations in England and Wales.
We represent:
300 plus members, delivering over 3000 services locally, regionally and nationally, reaching 8 million+ people with poor mental health and illness in the community. This equates to 1 in 8 people receiving support from a voluntary and community mental health provider. Through our Living Experience Advisory Group, we are working with, being guided by, and learning from people with experience of mental health services.
For more information, visit www.amhp.org.uk
Contact: Victoria Buyer
With thanks to Colligo Labs for the development of the new ESRI visualisation.