Annual staff engagement survey
Workforce Survey Data 2026
Explore the complete findings from our 2026 survey, providing a detailed picture of what colleagues told us about working in care.
The survey gathered responses from 475 Hales Homecare colleagues across the organisation.
About this data
The Hales Homecare Workforce Survey 2026 was created to understand better the experiences, motivations and priorities of people working across the organisation. A total of 475 colleagues took part, sharing their views on why they chose a career in care, what makes their work rewarding, the challenges they experience and what matters to them for the future.
The results below present the aggregated survey findings. Individual responses are not identified, and open-text responses have not been published as part of the full dataset. Where respondents could select more than one answer, percentages may total more than 100%.
Executive Summary
Key Headline Metrics
Metric
Result
Total Responses
475
Would you recommend working at Hales to a friend?
91% Positive
I see care as a long-term career.
66%
I feel supported by the team around me.
84% Agree/Strongly Agree
I feel safe while carrying out my role.
94% Agree/Strongly Agree
I have received the training I need to work safely.
97% Agree/Strongly Agree
I understand how my role contributes to helping people live independently at home.
100% Agree/Strongly Agree
If it was arranged within your working schedule and fully funded, would you consider volunteering in good causes in your local community?
79%
What Motivates Staff
What keeps you working in care?
Response
Result
Making a difference
80% say this keeps them working
Relationships with service users
66%
Sense of purpose
45%
Supportive team
33%
Workforce Profile
Job title
Response
Count
%
Care Assistant
423
89.05%
Other
22
4.63%
Manager
10
2.11%
Care Coordinator
11
2.32%
Quality Assessor
8
1.68%
Trainer
1
0.21%
How long have you worked in adult social care?
Response
Count
%
5+ years
188
39.58%
1-3 years
135
28.42%
3-5 years
92
19.37%
Less than 1 year
60
12.63%
How long have you worked with Hales?
Response
Count
%
1-3 years
223
46.95%
Less than 1 year
130
27.37%
5+ years
70
14.74%
3-5 years
52
10.95%
Did you have previous care experience before joining Hales?
Response
Count
%
Yes
348
73.26%
No
127
26.74%
Motivation & Engagement
What motivated you to start working in care?
Response (multi-select)
Count
% of Staff
Wanted to make a difference
431
91%
Personal experience of care
266
56%
Flexible working hours
257
54%
Career progression opportunities
230
48%
Needed employment at the time
130
27%
Recommended by someone
111
23%
What keeps you working in care?
Response (multi-select)
Count
% of Staff
Making a difference
382
80%
Relationships with service users
313
66%
Sense of purpose
212
45%
Supportive team
158
33%
Flexibility
154
32%
Career progression
129
27%
Financial stability
77
16%
I see care as:
Response
Count
%
A long-term career
315
66%
A stepping stone
63
13%
Flexible work for now
49
11%
Not sure
48
10%
What motivates you in your role?
Response (multi-select)
Count
Work-life balance
329
Consistent hours
242
Strong management support
218
Recognition
192
Structured training
174
Clear career pathway
162
Higher pay
108
Workplace Culture & Support
Workplace Culture & Support
Question
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Str. Disagree
% Positive
I understand our company values and what they mean in my day-to-day role.
213 (45%)
247 (52%)
7 (1%)
8 (2%)
97%
I feel senior leaders are visible, approachable and lead by example.
145 (31%)
246 (52%)
58 (12%)
26 (5%)
82%
I feel supported by the team around me.
149 (31%)
251 (53%)
55 (12%)
20 (4%)
84%
I feel safe while carrying out my role.
200 (45%)
246 (52%)
26 (5%)
3 (1%)
94%
I have received the training I need to work safely.
204 (43%)
256 (54%)
10 (2%)
5 (1%)
97%
I understand how my role contributes to helping people live independently at home.
315 (66.3%)
158 (33.3%)
0 (0%)
2 (0.4%)
100%
Positive Statement Summary
Statement
% Positive
I understand how my role contributes to helping people live independently at home.
100%
I have received the training I need to work safely.
97%
I understand our company values and what they mean in my day-to-day role.
97%
I feel safe while carrying out my role.
94%
I feel supported by the team around me.
84%
I feel senior leaders are visible, approachable and lead by example.
82%
Employee Advocacy, Social Impact & Community
Would you recommend working at Hales to a friend?
Response
Count
%
Yes
308
65%
Maybe
125
26%
No
42
9%
Net Positive (Yes + Maybe)
411
91%
What social or community initiatives matter most to you?
Response (multi-select)
Count
%
Supporting older adults to stay at home
373
79%
Fair working conditions
203
43%
Supporting local communities
180
38%
Reducing pressure on the NHS
141
30%
Environmental impact
53
11%
How important is it to you that your employer is environmentally responsible?
Response
Count
%
Very important
317
67%
Quite important
95
20%
Neutral
58
12%
If it was arranged within your working schedule and fully funded, would you consider volunteering in good causes in your local community?
Response
Count
%
Yes
372
78%
No
103
22%
What would attract more people into care?
What would attract more people into care?
Response (multi-select)
Count
% of Staff
Higher hourly rates
339
71%
Guaranteed hours contracts
295
62%
Flexible hours
187
39%
Better understanding of role value
173
36%
Structured shift patterns
177
37%
Clear career pathways
138
29%
More training/qualifications
116
24%