Naomi's Story

Naomi, 34, from Stalybridge and Hyde in the North West, trained as a care worker but couldn't find sustainable employment in social care. Despite local care homes desperately needing staff, providers couldn't offer competitive wages because council fees are capped below the actual cost of delivering care. HM Treasury's grant limits to local authorities treat care spending as a fiscal burden rather than recognizing it as the pathway connecting trained carers with vulnerable people who need support. Trained workers exist, care homes have vacancies, but Westminster chooses to ration political willingness to fund proper care. This episode exposes how central government spending caps create artificial shortages in a sector where human need and available workers should naturally meet. Disclosure: This story is told with Naomi's permission.