Correction 30/6/22 16:30 - this article was amended to include a statement from St Monica Trust and with our apology for a mistake in the previous version.

Less than a quarter of care workers feel happy at the end of their shift, according to new research. 

The study, conducted by workforce management app Deputy as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, found 23% of care workers left their shifts feeling happy in the first four months of 2022, compared to 48% of hospitality staff. 

More than 92,500 UK shifts were measured between January 1 and April 30 2022. 

Almost half of the shifts recorded by care workers were described as ‘frustrated’, ‘stressed’ or, at best, 'ok'. Other recent research from Queen Mary University showed that 26% of healthcare workers were seeking help for mental health support during the pandemic. 

David Kelly, General Manager for Deputy, said: “While this will come as no surprise after the relentless pressure on workers for more than two years now, this data highlights how vital it is for employers and managers to look after their teams. Doing so is important for each individual’s own wellbeing, but also for the good of residents and for the success of the business.” 

As well as emotional stress, some workers in the care sector are not only facing the same financial pressures as lots of others due to the cost-of-living crisis, but some could also be facing additional difficulties due to pending employment terms and conditions.  

For example, workers at one of Bristol’s biggest older people's providers have voted to strike against changes that they say could affect their pay and conditions.

"The UK health and care sector has seen a large turnover of staff during the pandemic and subsequently, this has seen an increased use of agency staff across our sector as a whole. By increasing rates of pay, attracting new people into the care sector and offering better career pathways, we will be able to recruit and retain more staff, making us less reliant on agency staff in the future", says David Williams, Chief Executive of the St Monica Trust.

The next strike is planned for Tuesday 5 July and is set to be followed by 48-hour strikes on 10 and 12 July. 

Voscur recognises this is a complex issue with different positions and considerations. We hope that the dispute is resolved as soon as possible so that the Trust and its workforce can continue to provide much-needed services in Bristol.