The Care Workers’ Charity has launched Centring Care Workers: A Guide – a practical and vital new resource co-produced with the Care Worker Advisory Board. The guide supports organisations and leaders to meaningfully engage care workers in decision-making, service design, and policy development, putting those with frontline experience at the heart of change.
Too often, care workers – the very experts delivering essential services – are left out of the conversations that shape their roles and the sector. This guide highlights the transformative power of co-production, providing practical approaches to foster genuine collaboration, inclusive practices, and sustained partnerships.
By centring the voices of care workers, the guide promotes a culture rooted in trust, respect, and shared ownership – recognising care workers not simply as employees but as key stakeholders and partners in shaping the future of adult social care.
Karolina Gerlich, CEO of The Care Workers’ Charity, said: “At The Care Workers’ Charity, we believe lasting change must begin with those on the frontline. That is why we are proud to launch Centring Care Workers: A Guide, co-produced with our Care Worker Advisory Board.
This guide is more than a resource; it reflects our commitment to placing care workers at the front and centre of important discussions and decision-making. Too often, care workers are left out of the conversations that shape their careers and futures. This guide offers practical tools and tips for organisations and leaders to change that—by listening, engaging meaningfully, and acting on the insight and expertise of the workforce.
I am incredibly grateful to our Advisory Board Members who helped shape this guide—we hope that we can build a sector that values, respects and is co-designed with care workers.”
Funded by The Rayne Foundation, the Care Worker Advisory Board collaborated closely to ensure this guide captures real experiences, practical advice, and tested approaches. It offers guidance on embedding co-production principles such as valuing care workers' input, ensuring inclusivity, and building safe spaces for honest feedback.
The guide outlines clear benefits of involving care workers in decision-making – from improving quality of care and worker wellbeing to driving innovation and strengthening relationships across the sector. It also warns of the risks when care workers' voices are ignored, including low morale, missed opportunities for improvement, and a weakened care system.
At its heart, Centring Care Workers: A Guide affirms that to create a better, more sustainable future for Adult Social Care, care workers must be seen, heard, and empowered.
Download ‘Centring Care Workers: A Guide’here.
