Annual staff engagement survey
Inside the Hales
We asked 475 Hales Homecare colleagues what brought them into care, what makes them stay and what matters most to them at work.
Their answers reveal a workforce driven overwhelmingly by purpose, but also highlight what people need to build a long and rewarding career in care.
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01 — Purpose
Making a difference isn't just why people choose a career in care. It's why they stay.
For Hales colleagues, care is overwhelmingly a career driven by purpose. 91% said wanting to make a difference motivated them to enter the sector, and for 80%, making a difference remains one of the reasons they continue working in care.
What brought them to care
entered care wanting to make a difference
What keeps them in care
The relationships built along the way matter too, with 66% saying relationships with the people they support are one of the reasons they stay.
“You’re not just a carer. You’re the person who helps someone eat, laugh, feel safe. That’s not a job. That’s a privilege.”
02 — A career, not a stopgap
For two thirds, care isn't a stopgap. It's a career.
For 66% of Hales colleagues, care is a long-term career, not simply a stepping stone. It challenges the idea that care is temporary work and points instead to a workforce that sees a future in the sector.
While two thirds see care as a long-term career, the findings also highlight the flexibility of the sector. For others, care provides valuable work for their current circumstances, a route to future opportunities or a career they are still exploring.
03 — The moments that matter
The greatest reward? Seeing someone happy.
“Seeing people smile when you come in—that’s when you know this job is worth it.”
Supporting independence and building relationships also matter, reinforcing how strongly job satisfaction is tied to the difference colleagues can see and experience first-hand.
04 — The honest picture
The work is rewarding. That doesn't make it easy.
Care can be enormously rewarding, but Hales colleagues are equally clear about its challenges. Time pressure and emotional strain are the most commonly cited pressures, followed by travel between calls and pay.
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES
Percentage ranking each as their number-one challenge
The respect gap
Say care work is unequivocally respected by society.
A further 44% say it is only “somewhat” respected.
Care professionals see the difference their work makes every day. The findings suggest wider society doesn’t always recognise its value in the same way.
A SIMPLE "THANK YOU" GOES A LONG WAY IN CARE
Almost half of respondents said verbal recognition makes them feel appreciated, showing that everyday acknowledgement can be just as important as more formal rewards.
THE POWER OF RECOGNITION
Nearly 1 in 2 care professionals say verbal recognition makes them feel valued – compared with 1 in 3 who selected pay increases.
05 — EQUIPPED to care
Hales colleagues feel equipped and confident to care.
Colleagues report high levels of confidence in the fundamentals of delivering safe, effective care. Almost all say they have received the training they need, know how to raise health and safety concerns and feel safe carrying out their role.
understand how their role helps people live independently
know how to report health and safety concerns
understand how Hales’ values apply to their day-to-day role
say they have received the training they need to work safely
feel safe carrying out their role
feel supported by the team around them
06 — Beyond the care visit
For Hales colleagues, care goes beyond the care visit.
For Hales colleagues, the impact of care extends beyond an individual visit. Supporting people to remain independent at home matters deeply, while there is also a strong appetite to contribute more widely to the communities in which they work.
say helping older people remain independent at home is important to them
That creates a clear opportunity to channel the workforce’s sense of purpose beyond care visits and into the communities Hales serves.
WIDER ISSUES COLLEAGUES CARE ABOUT
Supporting local communities · 38%
Reducing pressure on the NHS · 30%
07 — In their own words
What making a difference really looks like.
Behind every percentage is a human moment. In their own words, Hales colleagues describe the relationships, achievements and everyday moments that make a career in care matter.
PURPOSE
“You’re not just a carer. You’re the person who helps someone eat, laugh and feel safe. That’s not a job. That’s a privilege.”
Hales colleague
IMPACT
“I helped a lady rebuild her confidence and walk again.”
Hales colleague
CONNECTION
“In the long run you end up with extended family. They see you as part of their family.”
Hales colleague
These findings paint a picture of a workforce driven by purpose, proud of the difference it makes and overwhelmingly committed to delivering safe, meaningful care. They also highlight the realities of working in care – from emotional and time pressures to the need for greater recognition of the profession.
For Hales, listening is only useful if it leads to action. These findings will help shape how we support our colleagues, strengthen their experience and continue making care a career in which people can thrive.
Bring your purpose to Hales.
Whether you are new to care or ready for your next step, there is a place for people who want their work to matter.
About the research: Annual Hales staff engagement survey, 475 responses, 2026. Percentages are rounded. Multi-select questions may total more than 100%. Quotations are lightly edited for clarity and anonymised pending publication approval.