Promoting a culture which genuinely values its social care workforce – DRAFT

As one of five integrated Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland, Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT) serves over 400,000 people across urban and rural communities. Our social care workforce provides skilled, person-centred support across community, day care, residential, hospital, and supported-living settings. Yet evidence shows that their contribution is often undervalued, with limited opportunities for recognition, professional growth, or influence over decision-making.

Working in partnership with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC), this project will co-design and test approaches that make “feeling valued” visible and sustainable for the social care workforce. By hosting this project, SHSCT will create a learning environment where evidence and experience come together to strengthen morale, retention, and quality of care. The outputs – tested models, evidence summaries, and improvement tools – will be shared regionally through networks, workshops, and policy forums.