An additional one million people will need to be recruited to social care jobs over the next 15 years, according to estimates made by the Department of Health (DoH).

The DoH's workforce strategy for the UK's future needs in adult social care has revealed that demand for social care is set to increase rapidly over the next two decades. From its estimates, a significant investment in the development and growth of the available workforce will be needed to meet this demand.

According to their reports, the number of over-85's will double in the next 20 years, with the dramatically longer lifespans of modern Britons leading to an unprecedented increase in long-term illnesses. These predictions have been supported by the Health Select Committee's report into the Future of Social Care Services, which called for a "overarching strategic vision for the future social care workforce."

Commenting on the Health Select Committee's report, Andrea Rowe of Skills For Care said that the social care workforce development body would "take on board the analysis and recommendations from the Health Select Committee's report."

"We believe that workforce development is central to quality services for the future" said Rowe. "In order to deliver a National Care Service, a whole person, whole system and whole community approach is required. This means seamless operating systems across social care and health care, as well as the bringing together of a wide range of services and a diverse workforce."