Social care workers' pay rises

According to research conducted by the Resolution Foundation, the National Living Wage has had a positive impact of increasing the wages of low paid care workers.

The study examined pay data for 80,000 employees of more than 2,000 care providers, and found that 57 per cent of frontline workers have benefited directly from the £7.20 minimum with an average pay rise of 9.2 per cent. The increase includes 83 per cent of those aged under 25 who are now receiving £7.20 or more, despite not being required to by law.

The report concluded that the overall pay bill has risen by 6.9 per cent which had ‘undoubtedly correlated with an immediate and profound increase in pay in the sector.’

The news counters previous warnings by bodies such as Care England, which warned the new rate could be the final straw for care businesses on the brink of financial viability.

Laura Gardiner, senior research and policy analyst at the foundation, said: “It is great news that the national living wage has had a large, positive impact on low pay in social care, giving hundreds of thousands of frontline care workers a pay rise, with no evidence of hours being cut to foot the bill.”

Event Diary

This story was first published in digitalhealth.net

Supplier Profiles

CDC success at Victoria Infirmary, Northwich creates ideal model for future patient pathway reforms

Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients

Gain valuable insight with Adveco for gas to electric decarbonisation projects

Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho