Many more male health care staff members needed, says providers' chief

Far more male care workers are required to take care of older people, the chief exec of Care England has said. Prof Martin Green informed BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the govt ought to do a lot more to sign up men into front-line adult social care positions. He stated that as an increasing number of men are living for a longer period, more men are needed for their personal care.

The Dept of Health claimed it will always encourage more people of either sex to become carers. "We have an ageing human population and many individuals who receive care into old age now are men," claimed Prof Green. "The majority of carers are women. With regards to private care specifically, some men want this to be carried out by a male instead of female."
Care England claims it is the major representative body for independent care providers in England.

Its associates contain single care homes, small local organizations, national providers and not-for-profit voluntary organisations and associations, giving services for older people and people with long term ailments, learning disabilities or mental health issues. It comes down to each and every citizen analyzing their own pre-conceived notions of who delivers care Prof Martin Green, Care England

Prof Green claimed that "entrenched societal perceptions" stop males from thinking about care work. "The problem is people always view caring jobs as being female roles. We should make society be aware that all people have the potential to become a carer," he stated. Government figures demonstrate 84% of carers across the field in England are females, and only 16% are men. This number has stayed stationary since 2012. "The govt could possibly be much more organized in their strategy," he went on.

"They could make sure that each and every school is aware that care career pathways are for men as well as women, they can show much more men in govt info on care positions, and they should put much more focus on reaching out to males when they promote care role vacancies. "This is about each and every arm of government working to alter the belief that care jobs are just for ladies. "More importantly, it's about each and every citizen examining their own pre-conceived notions of who gives care."

Eighty-year-old Jonathan Ryan from a residential home in Surrey has severe mobility difficulties. He informed Today he wished there were much more males taking care of him: "From a personal point of view - having showers and baths and personal washing and things, I would much rather be washed and bathed by a fellow male. It tends to make me feel uneasy. I would much prefer a male, I have to tell you." For Mr Ryan, it's not only a matter of personal choice - he also claimed he feels in safer hands with men.
Following a recent severe fall, Mr Ryan said that it was the sheer power of a big male carer that ensured he was lifted out of an uncomfortable position. "He basically dragged me gently out but securely and then he got behind me correctly and lifted me up."

One of the largest not-for-profit care home providers in England, Anchor, states having no male carers is storing up trouble for the future; they have began a recruitment drive in schools and colleges to bring in more men into the positionResearch by social care focused charity Skills for Care states males are usually turned off from becoming carers due to belief that it's a career with unpleasant routine duties.

Additional circumstances include a bad look at the sector's income and salaries, conditions of service, and opportunities to grow. Mark Hand works as a carer. He says that his job "raises a few eyebrows" but his sex does not prevent him or his female co-workers from carrying out their duties efficiently. "It at times needs a little time to break down barriers when you are working with a woman as a man and vice-versa," he said. "But so long as you display a lot of love, dignity and you treat them with respect then those limitations do come down and they're very content for you to care for them."

A Dept of Health representative mentioned: "We would entice more people, including men, to join the social care workforce. "There is a large range of opportunities for both men and women and we've released assistance on just how care companies can attract more men to the profession. "Hundreds of thousands of care workers will benefit when we introduce the National Living Wage, which will also help encourage more people to join the sector."