Consultation and funding are the first steps to improving social care, says UNISON

Commenting on the government’s commitment to the fair pay agreement for social care in England, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said today (Tuesday):

“This is the first government to take the many problems in social care seriously and, more importantly, to act on them.

“Years of low wages and poor conditions have left the sector with huge holes in its workforce, unable to deliver the support that’s needed.

“The best way to begin getting a grip on this complex, fragmented sector in crisis is to improve wages through a fair pay agreement, backed by proper funding.

“The higher wages that result will help make staff feel more valued, boost recruitment and encourage care workers to stay in their jobs for longer.

“The funding announced is a start, but substantially more will be needed to deliver the national care service the public deserves.

“Once the care sector is able to stand on its own two feet and provide quality care to all those needing support, it will ease the pressure on families and the NHS.

“The launch of the public consultation allows the long-overdue reform of care to begin to take shape.

“Ministers will have to increase the funding behind the fair pay agreement at the earliest opportunity. Then wages in care can rise more quickly and the staffing crisis end.”

Notes to editors: 

– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:

Anthony Barnes 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

Dan Ashley M: 07508 080349 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk