Page 15 - PIC Magazine Issue 25 - Autumn-Winter 2025

Recruitment to Retention:
Practical Insights from
Experience when Costing Care
Emma Way, Care and Occupational Therapy Expert, Emma Way Associates.
Costing care can be a minefi eld. As well as the obvious requirements of the client, the
complexities ranging from where the patient is living to the ability to retain support workers
all have to be factored into how much a care package will cost. At Emma Way Associates,
our care experts have in depth knowledge of putting care packages together and
managing them so we know from experience exactly where the pitfalls can be.
sometimes be set aside in place of a generic
The diff ering geographical rates of pay may
rate but this can cause a vast infl ation or
underestimation of the care required. For
example, a directly employed carer in Leicester may
cost a third less than the same carer in Cheshire.
And there may often be similar discrepancies
between northern and southern locations as well
as urban and rural areas. A lot of this may come
down to general employment opportunities and
available workforce but at EWA we are alive to these
discrepancies, and we make sure that the location
of the client is refl ected in the care costs required.
But care rates do not tell the whole story.
We know from experience that job satisfaction
is vital to a smooth-running package which is
generally a more cost-eff ective package. As for
anyone, the quality of management support is a
signifi cant factor in increasing job satisfaction.
We know that good team leadership is essential
whether this is from a team leader, case manager
or an agency. A care manager must be proactive
not reactive, involved and transparent with open
communication. Those with a problem solving
and fl exible approach have increased capacity to
manage changes more eff ectively.
Clear communication and keeping good notes in
a care package are key to the smooth running of
a package and can prove to be cost eff ective as
well. Having good quality notes to rely on means
that a care expert can give an accurate refl ection
of the care required and evidence this easily. Good
communication means that the individual is safe
and well protected, and the care team feel involved,
appreciated and in control of situations. This helps
strengthen the team.
Supervision must always be allowed for and will also
ensure that the team is well supported, and better care is
therefore aff orded to the individual. For long term success,
it is important that a care team really works and therefore
some rearrangement of team members may be required.
A team where there are grievances or suspensions becomes
a very costly team to run so it is best to address any possible
diffi culties before they arise. Team members should be
upskilled as this improves the abilities within the team which
better serves the client and also keeps the team motivated.
Recruiting the right staff with the right incentives within the
team generally means that there is better staff retention
which will, in turn, lead to better support for the individual,
and a more cost-eff ective team to run.
As experts in care provision, we are always looking to advise
as to the care that is required for an individual, and we seek
to ensure that the provision is bespoke. That may involve, at
times, family carers. We appreciate that this can be a sensitive
area and there can be tensions which arise between support
workers and family carers. Again, good communication can
smooth these diffi culties so that expectations and needs
can be fully explained. As care experts, we consider that family
care may not always be available and therefore provision for
paid support should always be considered as a contingency
at the very minimum.
Care provision needs to consider other contingencies as well.
Holiday support, periods of illness and increased needs in later
life are perhaps obvious ones but there is also the possibility of
the individual needing more care if they themselves go on to
have a family, particularly when looking after a baby. And then
there are times of transition from school to independent living
or moving house.
So, care provision can be a minefi eld but with the right
expertise it can be navigated safely and costed appropriately.
As experts in care provision, we are always looking to
advise as to the care that is required for an individual,
and we seek to ensure that the provision is bespoke.
www.pic.legal Autumn & Winter 2025
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