Care workers undervalued by as much as £7,000 a year

Many frontline social care workers are undervalued by as much as 39 per cent – nearly £7,000 per year – in comparison to their peers in equivalent positions in other public funded sectors.

Community Integrated Care has reported that frontline carers receive an unjust deal in comparison to other public funded industries and breaks the stereotype that social care is a ‘low-skilled’ sector.

With the social care sector losing more than 34 per cent of its employees every year and having 112,000 vacancies presently, the Unfair to Care research brings into stark focus the roots of an unprecedented workforce crisis.

The average pay for Support Workers in England who assist people to live independently in the community is £17,695 or £9.05 per hour – 45p per hour below the Real Living Wage. Roles with equivalent scope, complexity and accountability within other public funded sectors are, on average, paid at £24,602.

The gap is even greater in the sector’s counterpart – the NHS. The average take home pay for equivalent jobs in the NHS is £25,142, meaning that many social care workers would need a 42 per cent pay rise, an additional £7,447, to have parity with their NHS peers.

The analysis has led to calls for the government to provide an immediate and fair pay rise to social care workers and deliver a robust social care sector people plan, which ensures long-term parity of pay with other public funded sectors.

Mark Adams, CEO of Community Integrated Care, said: “The moral case for investment in social care and its workforce has, sadly, been ignored for years. This research now provides cold hard facts, which surely cannot be ignored by the government. Our research proves that in other related sectors, many frontline Support Workers would be getting paid at least £6,907 more per year, and almost £7500 within the NHS. This is immoral, illogical, and cannot be justified.”

“This is a significant challenge, but it can be fixed – firstly, by recognising the £46 billion contribution that social care makes to the UK economy annually, and also delivering progressive reforms that improve efficiency and quality of live through delivering joined-up services, reducing the burden on family carers and embracing innovations. All evidence points to overwhelming public support for investment in the sector. This is an issue of strategy and focus, not of possibility.”

“It is a matter of national shame that social care workers, who provide such an invaluable service to society, are in such desperate circumstances. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, frontline workers have risked their health to protect those who need their support. Most have done so below the poverty line and without the basic safety net of sick pay. This cannot continue.”