Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 13
13
Deferred
Low pay for social care workers does not recognise skills and pushes some into poverty.
Conclusion
Low pay does not adequately recognise the level of skill adult social care workers need to do very difficult physical and emotional work. It is both morally unacceptable, and economically shortsighted, that the current pay regime is pushing some into poverty. Higher wages would achieve better quality care and reduce recruitment and training costs. We welcome increases to the National Living Wage. (Conclusion, Paragraph 85)
Government Response Summary
The government defers to Baroness Casey's full autonomy to determine the independent commission’s priorities, acknowledging her task to make adult social care more productive and preventative, rather than committing to specific actions regarding low pay for care workers.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
Baroness Casey has full autonomy to determine the commission’s priorities, within its remit as set out in the terms of reference. However, the government agrees that a sustainable care market is essential to delivering high-quality, person-centred care. As outlined in the terms of reference, Baroness Casey is tasked with making adult social care more productive and preventative and giving more power to people who draw on care, and their families and carers.