Social care provider workforce

The total number of posts in Torbay was around 5,400 in 2024/25. This was comprised of 5,100 filled posts and 275 vacant posts across all sectors. Since the previous year, the total number of posts has increased by 375 (7.5%), the number of filled posts has increased by 375 (7.6%) and the number of vacancies were similar. The estimated 5,100 filled posts were split between local authorities (0%), independent sector providers (86%), and posts working for direct payment recipients (14%).  In 2024/25, the CQC register showed there were 108 regulated services in Torbay; 77 were residential and 31 were non-residential services.

If the workforce grows proportionally to the projected number of people aged 65 and over then the total number of adult social care posts in the South West region will increase by 32% (from 182,000 to 240,000 posts) between 2024/25 and 2040. Torbay reports can be downloaded from the My local area website.

2024/5 highlights of the workforce are below. Key points are that:

• Torbay has an ASC staff turnover rate of nearly 30%, at 27.2%, higher than the South West (26.1%) and England (24.2%). In Torbay nursing homes the turnover rate is 41.2%.
• Turnover rate for care workers is 34.7% in Torbay and 29.9% in England.
• The vacancy rate for direct care staff is 4.7% in Torbay and 8.7% in the South West. For care workers it is 5.8% in Torbay and 9.9% in England.
• In Torbay and the South West 45% of the workforce hold a relevant social care qualification, and England 46%.

Image shows - summary of the adult social care workforce in Torbay

General workforce statistics

• 5,400 total posts
• 5,100 filled posts
• 275 vacant posts
• 700 direct payment recipients employing their own staff

Filled posts by selected services

• 700 CQC care homes with nursing
• 1,700 CQC care only homes
• 1,300 CQC non residentials

CQC-regulated establishments

• 108 CQC regulated establishments

Filled posts by sector

• Local authority: 10
• Independent and self-employed shared lives: 4,100

Filled posts by job group

• Managers: 325
• Regulated professions: 125
• Direct care: 3000
• Other: 650

Workforce demographics

The majority (74%) of the workforce in Torbay were female, and the average age is 42.6 years old. Those aged 25 and under, represented 9% of the workforce and those aged over 55 represented 25%, therefore approximately 1,300 people may retire in the next 10 years.

Across England 69% of the workforce identified as British, while in the South West region this was 72%. An estimated 72% of the workforce in Torbay identified as British, 23% identified as a non-EU nationality and 5% identified as an EU nationality, therefore there was a higher reliance on non-EU than EU workers.

Around 79% of the workforce in Torbay were of white ethnicity and 21% were from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups. In the South West, around  74% were of white ethnicity and 24% were of BAME groups and in around England 78% were of white ethnicity and 21% were of BAME groups.

Our comparator group

Throughout this document Torbay is compared to a ‘comparator group’ of Local Authorities (LAs). This group has been put together by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), which has developed an approach to aid benchmarking and comparing similar LAs, known as ‘nearest neighbours.’

• Blackpool
• Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
• Darlington
• Dudley
• East Riding of Yorkshire
• Isle of Wight
• North East Lincolnshire
• North Tyneside
• Northumberland
• Redcar and Cleveland
• Sefton
• Southend-on-Sea
• St. Helens
• Stockport
• Wirral

Source: CIPFA, IMD 2019, 2022 ONS mid-year population estimates.