Lib Dems call for higher pay for social care staff
Bearing in mind the disproportionate number of people who require domiciliary support in rural settings this article tells us:
The Liberal Democrats are calling for a higher minimum wage for social care workers to help tackle staff shortages.
Under the party’s plans, staff would be paid at least £2 an hour more than the minimum wage – currently £9.50 an hour for over-23s.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said carers were not valued enough, and vacancies had left the NHS “on its knees”.
The government said it was working to reduce vacancies, and is increasing funding for social care in England.
The UK national minimum wage sets out the lowest amount a worker can be paid per hour by law.
The rates are decided by the government, based on the recommendations of an independent advisory group, and change every year.
More than half of frontline care staff – 850,000 workers – would see their pay improve if there was a £2 an hour uplift to the minimum wage for the sector, according to the Resolution Foundation think tank.