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The coronavirus pandemic has badly hit the social care sector in Britain. The impact on the health of care recipients, and the operation of care settings has been well documented. However, the experience of the social care workforce has been less fully explored. This report presents and discusses the findings from a ‘pulse’survey of care workers undertaken in July/August 2020. We show that many care workers experienced increased workloads, reduced feelings of safety at work, and increased levels of stress, some of which significantly differed by care setting. However, many remained committed to the sector, despite the challenges. The results highlight the need for the development of tailored practical strategies and guidance to support care workers' wellbeing at work. An adequate level of supply of relevant equipment and testing along with relevant training remain crucial for both the workforce and service quality. While the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the effect of long-standing cracks in the social care sector, an urgent response is required to maintain the ability of the sector and its workforce to meet the escalating demands for social care.