At Care Show Birmingham earlier this year, York and the Five on a Bike team facilitated a series of open and honest ‘Caring Conversations’ with leading voices in the sector to reflect on the state of the social care sector and some of the current challenges facing providers. 

In this month’s featured episode, York sat down with Nadra Ahmed, Co-Chair of the National Care Association. Representing small to medium-sized organisations, the NCA has recently merged with the Registered Nursing Homes Association, forming the largest body of its kind.  

Nadra and York spoke about the pressures facing small providers, from funding uncertainty to recruitment challenges, but also about the determination and growth that still characterise the sector.  

“Our workforce has had to adapt: the work is more challenging, but their skills are greater,” Nadra said, adding that this skill and compassion often go under-recognised. 

The conversation turned to pay and funding, with Nadra highlighting the need for genuine reform. While she welcomed the government’s Fair Pay consultation, she was clear that “the money announced so far won’t be sufficient.” Many care workers, she noted, are struggling to make ends meet, and hearing about staff relying on food banks “should shame us as a nation.” 

They also discussed the ongoing disconnect between the NHS and social care systems. Nadra argued that more joined-up thinking could transform outcomes: “If the NHS has 400 people in hospital who don’t need to be there… investing in social care would fix that.” 

Despite the serious challenges facing the sector, the conversation ended on an upbeat note. Nadra spoke proudly about the people working in social care and the real difference they make to others’ lives every day. “For every person we care for, eight to ten others are [positively] affected,” she said, highlighting how far-reaching that impact can be. It was a grounded but hopeful finish: a reminder that, while the sector needs more support and recognition, its contribution to society is immense. 

Check out the conversation recording here: