Key worker
Encyclopedia
A key worker is a public sector
employee who is considered to provide an essential service. The term is often used in the United Kingdom
in the context of those essential workers who may find it difficult to buy property in the area where they work.
In particular, it has become more prominent as escalating house prices result in a gap between household income and the cost of housing. Many local authorities and other public sector bodies (especially in London
and the South East
, where a "Key worker living scheme" operates) face major problems recruiting and retaining their workers (many of whom are on lower levels of pay than the private sector) in terms of housing (in most cases the social rented sector is unable to provide low cost housing for rent or shared ownership). The response to these concerns has been the development of initiatives designed to house key workers, including low-cost loans and shared ownership schemes.
Those defined as key workers generally include:
The definition is sometimes extended to include those support staff without whom the above roles may struggle to function.. The term was also initially used in mental health services to identify the health professional responsible for the coordination of care under CPA
, but has since been replaced in 1999 by the term Care Co–ordinator
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
employee who is considered to provide an essential service. The term is often used in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the context of those essential workers who may find it difficult to buy property in the area where they work.
In particular, it has become more prominent as escalating house prices result in a gap between household income and the cost of housing. Many local authorities and other public sector bodies (especially in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and the South East
South East England
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England, designated in 1994 and adopted for statistical purposes in 1999. It consists of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex...
, where a "Key worker living scheme" operates) face major problems recruiting and retaining their workers (many of whom are on lower levels of pay than the private sector) in terms of housing (in most cases the social rented sector is unable to provide low cost housing for rent or shared ownership). The response to these concerns has been the development of initiatives designed to house key workers, including low-cost loans and shared ownership schemes.
Those defined as key workers generally include:
- Clinical National Health ServiceNational Health ServiceThe National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
staff - TeacherTeacherA teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s and nursery nurses - Police officers, Community Support Officers and some civilian police staff
- Prison officers and some other Prison staff
- Probation Service staff
- Social workers, educational psychologistsEducational psychologyEducational psychology is the study of how humans learn in educational settings, the effectiveness of educational interventions, the psychology of teaching, and the social psychology of schools as organizations. Educational psychology is concerned with how students learn and develop, often focusing...
, and therapists - Local AuthorityLocal governmentLocal government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
PlannersUrban planningUrban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities.... - FirefighterFirefighterFirefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s - Connexions Personal Advisers
- Some Ministry of DefenceMinistry of Defence (United Kingdom)The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
personnel - Environmental Health OfficerEnvironmental health officerEnvironmental health officers are usually employed by local government or state health authorities to advise on and enforce public health standards...
- Highway Agency Traffic OfficersTraffic officerA traffic officer is a person with powers relating to the regulation of traffic on certain roads in England and Wales. In England, they are employed by the Highways Agency and in Wales by the Welsh Assembly Government and are not police officers or members of police forces.*Highways Agency Traffic...
The definition is sometimes extended to include those support staff without whom the above roles may struggle to function.. The term was also initially used in mental health services to identify the health professional responsible for the coordination of care under CPA
Care programme approach
Care Programme Approach is a United Kingdom system of delivering community services to those with mental illness. It was introduced to England in 1991 and by 1996 become a key component of the mental health system in England...
, but has since been replaced in 1999 by the term Care Co–ordinator
External links
- Martin, Geoff, "Just what is a 'key worker'?", The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, March 21, 2001.