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At The Care Workers’ Charity, we advocate for care workers who dedicate their lives to supporting others. The Six C’s of Care—Care, Compassion, Competence, Communication, Courage, and Commitment—are the foundation of good social care. However, one thing that is often overlooked is that these values should not only apply to those drawing on care but also to care workers themselves. 

Compassion is about more than just kindness; it’s about truly understanding someone’s situation and responding with empathy. Care workers live this every single day. They don’t just provide physical care—they provide emotional support, companionship, and reassurance to the people they support. They go above and beyond because they care deeply. 

But here’s the problem: while care workers extend endless compassion to others, how often is the same compassion given back to them? Their work carries enormous emotional weight. They worry about the people they support long after their shifts end. They wake up at 3 AM thinking about Mrs Jones. They check in on their day off because they care. 

If we truly value compassion, we must extend it to care workers. That means recognising the challenges they face every day: 

• Low Pay and Financial Struggles – Care workers, even in organisations that pay above minimum wage, remain a low-paid workforce. Financial insecurity adds unnecessary stress to an already demanding role. 
• Balancing Responsibilities – Many care workers also have caring responsibilities at home—whether for children, elderly relatives, or both. We need to acknowledge that their work is just one part of their life. 
• Mental and Emotional Strain – Social care is not just physically demanding; it’s emotionally exhausting. Watching people decline, dealing with loss, and constantly giving so much of themselves takes a toll. Without the right support, care workers burn out. And when they do, they leave. 

If we truly believe in compassion, we need to integrate it into our workplaces and policies. That means: 

• Flexible Work Patterns – Care workers need rotas that actually work for them, not just for the business. 
• Proper Rest and Recovery – They should be able to take time off without being guilt-tripped into covering another shift. 
• Better Pay and Recognition – Care workers are responsible for people’s lives. Their pay and job security should reflect that responsibility. 
• Mental Health Support – Care workers give so much of themselves emotionally. We need to stop treating their well-being as an afterthought. 

Compassion isn’t just about being nice—it’s about valuing people. Care workers are not just a workforce; they are people with their own needs, challenges, and lives. We can’t keep asking them to give more while offering nothing in return. 

Retention should come before recruitment. We can’t afford to keep losing experienced, dedicated care workers because we haven’t created a system that supports them. 

So next time you speak to a care worker—whether you’re an employer, a policymaker, a colleague, or a family member—ask yourself: Are we showing them the same compassion they give to others? 

Because care workers deserve to be well. They deserve to be valued. And without them, there is no social care system at all. 

Karolina Gerlich
CEO, The Care Workers’ Charity