workers should help improve the skills of the sector's workforce, but addressing historically low wages and the job's poor profile are also
key, say experts.
Although children living in residential care are among the most vulnerable in society, finding suitable staff with the right skill set to provide them with the care and support they need is fast becoming a major issue.
A survey of children's home staff published by the Department for Education this month found that 54 per cent of managers reported finding it difficult to recruit suitable staff for vacant positions. Of the managers who reported difficulty recruiting, 91 per cent said applicants do not have the required experience, with 52 per cent stating they do not have the necessary qualifications.
The statistics show that the issue is most acute in privately-run homes, which account for about 75 per cent of the market, with wages generally lower, lower staff-to-child ratios in homes and managers reporting higher levels of recruitment difficulties than their local authority employed counterparts.
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