To ask the Minister of Health for his assessment of the current shortage of domiciliary carers in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

Ongoing challenges relating to the retention and recruitment of domiciliary care workers are being felt right across the region.

The Belfast HSC Trust are experiencing a number of challenges relating to limited applications for posts, applicants withdrawing from applications due to the length of time it takes to go through the appointment processes, and a high attrition rate associated with an ageing workforce.

In addressing these issues, the Trust has employed a dedicated member of staff to engage with applicants, and with the Business Services Organisation throughout the recruitment process, with the aim of keeping candidates involved, and to try and expedite the recruitment process where possible.

There is a focus on recruitment, with a rolling advertisement for roles on the HSCNI jobs website, engagement in promotional events, and participation in regular recruitment fairs.

The Trust is taking tangible steps to try to address the shortage and I recognise that it is working in an extremely competitive wider recruitment market.

There is a real need to recognise the value in these roles, and to reward workers appropriately for the work they do. An immediate priority on my return to this Department is to secure pay settlements for healthcare staff in the statutory sector and work is actively continuing in that area. Whilst my Department has no say in the rates that independent sector providers pay staff, we are also looking at the current rate paid to providers, and to what extent an uplift could be applied.