Care Sector In Crisis Due To Staff Shortages

The Jersey Care Federation has confirmed that having spoken with their members, the care sector is now in crisis due to staff shortages.

Chair of The Jersey Care Federation Cheryl Kenealy commented:

”We know that many of our providers are having to turn people away on a daily basis. If we are not able to provide care, it doesn't matter what the cost is because it'll be irrelevant. Our sector currently does not have the capacity and we cannot get our staff to work longer hours."

Health Minister Deputy Richard Renouf has said that said more staff were needed and wages needed to rise, which may come at a cost to islanders. Commenting to BBC Jersey he stated:

"We must attract more people into care, it is a rewarding job but it is hard work. Carers do a magnificent job... but the pay is low, especially in Jersey that will mean that it's difficult for people to survive. What that means is that we probably have to pay more in long term care contributions, so there's probably taxation implications to that."

Theses comments follow the struggle of a government campaign to recruit carers for at-home support. The six-month long Help at Home campaign launched in October aiming to recruit 100 community carers and so far has had 30 applicants with eight starting work.

The Jersey Care Federation is currently consulting with its members to establish what assistance they would find most helpful to address this urgent staff shortage.