National spotlight on Cornwall as care workforce strategy earns top recognition

As Cornwall celebrates Good Care Month, a strategy designed to strengthen Cornwall’s independent adult social care has been nationally recognised as an example of good practice.

Cornwall’s adult social care independent sector workforce strategy, commissioned by Cornwall Council and developed by Manchester Metropolitan University, has been highlighted by Skills for Care and the Local Government Association as an exemplar approach to supporting and developing the care workforce.

The strategy was created to address the challenges facing Cornwall’s independent adult social care sector and help ensure local people can continue to access high-quality care and support.

Backed by £350,000 funding from the Better Care Fund in 2025/2026, it focuses on eight priority areas: recruitment, retention, training and career progression, health and wellbeing, equality, diversity and inclusion, digital skills, workforce planning and national lobbying.

Cornwall Council Cabinet Lead for Adult Social Care and Health Partnerships, Cllr Jim McKenna, said: “There are more than 14,000 people in Cornwall providing essential support to thousands of residents.

“Since the strategy was launched, significant progress has been made. Vacancy rates across the sector have fallen by more than two percentage points since 2022/2023, while workforce turnover is now the lowest in the south west region.”

Some of the key achievements so far are:

• The Registered Manager Development Programme: Forty-two managers have already completed the programme, with participants reporting increased confidence in leadership, culture-building and innovation. The programme has also helped create strong peer networks, with graduates now actively helping to shape future workforce initiatives and engagement activities.

• Growing momentum behind Proud to Care Cornwall: Following the success of the 2024 and 2025 Care Awards, over 1000 nominations have been received for the 2026 awards, demonstrating growing recognition of the vital contribution made by the care workforce.

• Investment in future workforce: Recent research exploring the experiences and perceptions of young people aged 16–18 found that while barriers remain around awareness, stigma and perceptions of the sector, young people are attracted by the opportunity to make a difference, flexible working opportunities and clear career pathways. The findings are now informing the development of a young care worker network, recruitment resources and targeted campaigns aimed at attracting more young people into care careers.

• Strengthening digital skills and readiness across the sector, including a new Digital Skills and Technology Enabled Care Readiness Assessment being undertaken by Plymouth University.

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Cllr McKenna added: “Good Care Month is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible people working across Cornwall's adult social care sector and to recognise the difference they make to people's lives. We know the challenges facing the sector are significant, particularly in Cornwall where our ageing population, rural communities and growing demand for care services create additional pressures.

“That’s why I’m particularly pleased that Cornwall's workforce strategy has been recognised nationally as an example of good practice, which reflects the commitment of providers, partners and the workforce itself to finding innovative ways to recruit, retain and develop talented people.

“We remain committed to investing in our care workforce and ensuring that people across Cornwall continue to receive the high-quality care and support they deserve.”

The strategy can be read in full and is published on the Proud to Care Cornwall website.