The MEND Study: male workers in social care

Nurturing Innovation in Care Home Excellence in Leeds (NICHE-Leeds) is a partnership between universities and care organisations in Leeds. Their ongoing study, Promoting diversity and under-represented staff in adult social care (MEND), aims to explore strategies for increasing male representation in social care through improved recruitment, retention, and support for male care workers.

The beginnings of MEND 

Currently, men make up just 22% of the national social care workforce. Promoting workforce equality, diversity, and inclusion remains a key priority for the care sector.  

Yet, despite growing research into the social care workforce, the experiences and needs of male care workers have received little attention to date.  

In 2022, Kyle Bonham-Simpson - a male care worker at Springfield Healthcare, a care organisation part of NICHE-Leeds, raised concerns about the low representation of male staff in the sector. He raised  the importance of a gender-diverse workforce to better reflect and meet the needs and preferences of those receiving care. In addition, Kyle also highlighted the unique challenges faced by male care workers and how these may discourage other men from entering or remaining in the profession.  

In response, Kyle - alongside NICHE-Leeds researchers, Skills for Care, and the National Care Forum - secured research funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to address these issues. The funded project is called the MEND study (ProMoting divErsity and uNDer-represented staff in adult social care), which aims to explore and develop strategies for attracting, recruiting, and retaining more male care workers across both home care and care home settings.  

The three phases of the MEND study 

The study is being delivered in three key phases:  

• Workforce insights: Analysing national social care workforce data collected by Skills for Care, and conducting interviews with male care workers to better understand the characteristics of male staff, and the reasons why men choose to enter, remain in, or leave the profession.  

• Sector comparison: Reviewing how related fields - such as childcare, education, nursing, and social work - are successfully attracting, recruiting and retaining male staff. 

• Strategy co-design: Using findings from the first two phases to develop practical, evidence-based solutions in collaboration with sector stakeholders. 

 

Kyle Bonham-Simpson 

Kyle's story 

As a large man with a mohawk and beard, Kyle -  who transitioned from care home work to begin as  a nursery manager last year -  is acutely aware of the stereotypes often tied to his appearance. He knows that his "punk-rock" image may not immediately convey his inherently helpful nature. While people might make assumptions based on his look, Kyle describes himself as someone always eager to lend a hand.  

This natural inclination to help has been central to his character. His early experiences with Alzheimer’s, particularly caring for his grandmother who was diagnosed at a young age, played a key role in inspiring his decision to pursue a career in care.  

In addition to these experiences, Kyle was given the opportunity to take a Health and Social Care GCSE in school, which he credits with laying the groundwork for his future career.  

Kyle recognises that this was a unique opportunity - back in 2002, his school was one of the first to offer the GCSE. What’s more, in a class of over 20 students, only 3 were boys.   

Nevertheless, Kyle thrived on the course, enjoying it so much that he continued his studies at college, before securing a full-time role.  

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kyle took on a role in Springfield Healthcare (part of NICHE-Leeds), and it was there that Kyle first became involved in care-home research. He became particularly interested in a NICHE-Leeds led research project called the REACH (REcruiting and RetAining nurses and care workers in Care Homes) study.   

After meeting Dr. Reena Devi, a Scientific Linking Pin at NICHE-Leeds, Kyle asked  whether the REACH project’s findings captured  the experiences of male care workers - a perspective that had been largely overlooked in previous research.  

Motivated by his desire to highlight the discrimination and stereotyping he had faced throughout his career in care, Kyle worked alongside Reena and her team to help develop the MEND study.  

“Opportunities [to be involved in Social Care] should be given to men from a young age, like I’ve had. I was very lucky to have that." 

Reflecting on his desire to participate in the study, Kyle said: “I know people think that care is very woman-oriented, but it shouldn't be that way. Opportunities [to be involved in Social Care] should be given to men from a young age, like I've had. I was very lucky to have that.  

There were 5 men in my first course at the college. When I did my Level 3 years later, there was no other men. There was just me.”  

Kyle believes that sharing his experiences with the NICHE-Leeds research team is essential for developing strategies to improve recruitment and retention, ensuring  social care is  appealing and supportive to  men who may feel uncertain about their place in the sector.  

“Being involved in the research is really exciting. It allows me to voice my experiences – to help people. [Through this work], I could actually be helping that next generation.”  

On what Kyle is contributing to the research, Reena said: “A key way of working in the NICHE-Leeds partnership is to address topics that matter to people receiving care, their families and friends, and staff. Kyle started the MEND study off with his question about male representation in the workforce. He is a great colleague, and brings his practice-based experience, his expertise, and his perspective as a male care worker to ensure that the study activities and findings remain relevant.”  

Kyle feels as though he is already seeing the results from being involved in the research: “Since I asked the question about male care workers, the research has taken off. Lots of people are coming out with their stories, and people are being able to talk about their experiences. That starts the movement off, so we can really start to make a difference.”  

“Being involved in the research is really exciting. It allows me to voice my experiences – to help people. [Through this work], I could actually be helping that next generation.” 

The MEND study is currently ongoing, and will be completed in 2026. If you’re interested in the MEND study, want to know more, and/or want to get involved, feel free to contact Dr Reena Devi - [email protected]  

The MEND study is funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research, Research for Social Care (NIHR205721). The views expressed here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR, NHS or Department of Health and Social Care.