Why retention, not recruitment, is the healthcare sector’s game-changer
March 3rd 2025
In healthcare, turnover is more than a staffing issue, it’s a risk to operational stability and financial health.
Some providers are seeing attrition rates as high as 65% in at-home care and 94% in nursing homes. In this context, recruiting faster won’t solve the problem. Retaining better will.
Chief People Officers (CPOs) are now flipping the script, moving from recruitment-focused firefighting to proactive, data-driven retention strategies. At a recent Compass Carter Osborne round table, leading CPOs shared how they’re reshaping organisational culture and structure to keep good people and unlock performance in the process.
One standout strategy? Career path mapping using “Tube Map” visuals. These are simple, clear diagrams of progression routes within the business, printed and circulated on-site. For frontline care workers, it turns abstract growth into something tangible and motivating.
Others are investing in basic skills upskilling such as literacy, numeracy, and quality assurance training to prepare junior staff for promotion and regulatory responsibilities. The goal? Build confidence, competence, and loyalty at the entry level.
CPOs are also refining job roles and reducing unnecessary complexity in team structures. Better defined responsibilities mean better benchmarking, clearer expectations, and more effective performance management, right down to metrics like how long phones go unanswered in care settings.
Retention isn’t just about culture though, it’s about operations. With improved rostering tech, many providers are now giving staff the ability to self-manage shifts, cutting payroll inefficiencies by up to 10% and increasing attendance.
The takeaway is clear: retention is a systems problem, not just a sentiment problem. And solving it requires the same strategic rigour as finance or IT. The businesses that understand this will win on cost, consistency, and care quality.
“Retention isn’t just about culture, though. It’s about operations.”
Our recent round table brought together senior HR leaders to explore how the CPO role is evolving, the challenges they face, and the opportunities ahead. Find out more about the Evolving Role of the Chief People Officer below:
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