We've launched a petition calling for government to align minimum care worker pay to NHS Band 3 – a plea backed overwhelmingly by the public.
Download "About our social care petition" easy read
The petition launches in the wake of £250 million being cut from funding promised to the social care workforce, at a time when urgent action is required to prioritise recruitment and retention. There are currently around 165,000 social care vacancies – an increase of 52% since 2020-21.
After years of delayed reform, the public backs the social care sector in calling for the recognition it deserves. Our latest research reveals that 80% of the public thinks social care is as important or deserves the same respect as the NHS. Only 6% of the nation do not think social care workers should receive the same pay as NHS Band 3 workers – falling to just 3% of those over age 55.
NHS Band 3 includes clinical support workers, therapy assistants, pharmacy assistants, administrative workers, and clerical staff, who are currently paid £11.67 per hour. Dimensions – and the public – believe social care workers’ skills and professionalism should be recognised at an equal level with these important roles to reflect the complex caring tasks they undertake alongside supporting people to gain choice, control, and agency over their lives.
At present, four in ten social care workers earn less than the real living wage. Between 2013-2020, a sales assistant went from earning 13p per hour less than a care worker to 21p more on average, but social care providers are restricted in increasing pay by tough limits on local authority budgets. Amidst the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, many skilled social care workers feel they have no choice but to leave the workforce for better paid roles elsewhere.
To reverse this issue, our petition calls on the public and social care sector to unite in a call for government to benchmark pay with the NHS Band 3. This will allow support workers to earn a wage aligned with their skills and responsibilities, and encourage a much-needed pool of talented, dedicated workers into these vital careers.
Brett Hayter (29), lead support worker at Dimensions, says:
"I’m gutted I didn’t find this career sooner. After the pandemic forced an end to my career in the leisure industry, I applied for a job as a support worker, not really knowing what it entailed, but I’m so glad I did. From day one, I have loved it. I’ve never had a job that I’ve loved so much."
"The most rewarding part of the role is the relationships we form. I’ve made five amazing friends by working with the five people I support. It’s a lot of hard work and commitment, but to see them getting the best out of their lives because of the support we give them and seeing a smile on their faces is inspiring and the reason we all do this job. I would encourage any enthusiastic and compassionate individual to consider a career in social care!”
Jorden Carter, lead support worker at Dimensions, says:
“My mum has worked in the social care sector for as long as I can remember and I grew up seeing how much she enjoyed her job, so in 2018 I joined her. What I love about the role is working to help those we support live as independently as possible, helping them to do and enjoy the activities we all love. Supporting them to have these experiences makes it worthwhile, it’s a really rewarding career."
"But these responsibilities are often not recognised in wider society and our pay certainly doesn’t reflect how much we do – we go through a lot of training including CPR, lifesaving, and handling medications, yet you can go to the NHS, hospitality and retail and earn a lot more."
Rachael Dodgson, Chief Executive of Dimensions, recently spent a week working as a support worker with a team in London, supporting adults with profound learning disabilities with all aspects of personal care, medication, and daily living. She says:
"The shortfall in funding for the social care workforce is a betrayal of the hardworking, skilled individuals who were on the frontline of the pandemic and continue to provide essential care and support for older and disabled people who draw on social care support. The NHS simply cannot function without social care – so social care deserves the same recognition that the NHS rightfully has."
“Increasing support worker pay is not the silver bullet to workforce challenges but it is a critical first step and will make a measurable difference. We’ve implemented three pay rises for our support workers in the last year, but we’re restricted in going further by tough limits on local authority budgets. Yes, a larger, better-paid social care workforce comes with costs, but it’s an investment in people – both in rewarding and retaining a dedicated workforce and in providing people with the support they require to live happy and healthy lives.”
The petition is open for signatures now. To sign the petition, please visit https://chng.it/NLzsXVmvsK
