Homecare Association report

Homecare Association findings in the report A Minimum Price for Homecare: 2023-2024

ADASS’ Chief Executive, Cathie Williams, and President, Sarah McClinton, said:

“This report by the Homecare Association should be a powerful reminder of the human impact that poorly paid social care has on both workers and those drawing on support.  Care work is highly skilled and all care workers should be paid more than the National Living Wage. If this were to be the case, we could make some inroads in maintaining the essential workforce needed so that older and disabled people can continue to access support and live life fully.

We know that vacancies in the sector are of huge concern to Directors of Social Services, with 94% of respondents to our Autumn Survey reporting that they do not have sufficient workforce or funding  to deliver care this winter. They  are in the  invidious position of having to make decisions about paying providers more to retain staff at the same time as being very aware of the numbers of people waiting for or having insufficient care and support. Whilst the Government’s winter funding provides some temporary relief  it is targeted at hospital discharge rather than the sustainable care and support that could prevent people from being hospitalised in the first place.”