Social workers and care professionals spend their days supporting others through some of life’s most difficult moments. But while their attention is often focused on the people who depend on them, their own wellbeing can be much harder to prioritise.
A July 2026 report from the Department of Health and Social Care highlights the pressures facing England’s adult social care workforce. Based on a survey of more than 3,000 workers, the findings revealed that 40% reported high anxiety, while 46% often or constantly worried about work outside their working hours.
Almost half also said they were sometimes or rarely able to look after themselves properly at work.
Read the full government report on adult social care workers’ wellbeing.
These figures don’t tell the whole story. Many care professionals find real meaning in their work, and 90% of those surveyed reported good relationships with the people they support. However, the emotional demands of caring can follow people home, making it difficult to switch off, rest and recover.
Supporting these professionals means recognising that caring for others should not come at the expense of caring for yourself.
Making wellbeing part of the support system
Employers have an important role to play in creating healthier working environments. Alongside appropriate staffing, manageable workloads and supportive leadership, employees need access to help when personal or professional pressures become difficult to manage.
Shoorah can contribute through its Employee Assistance Programme, which provides confidential, 24/7 counselling and advice, in-the-moment support, structured counselling and self-help resources. These services give staff an additional route to support when they need someone to turn to.
The aim isn’t simply to help people cope with demanding work. It’s to make looking after their own wellbeing a normal and supported part of their working lives.
Because the people who spend their lives caring for others deserve to feel cared for, too.
