Home care staff face worsening pay and reduced safety

Research by UKHCA has found that home care staff are facing reduced pay and conditions are being put at risk of council cuts to providers. Staff are having to work longer hours in order to make up their salaries along with some having to work two jobs. UKHCA has also found that there were safety concerns for staff. Two fifths of councils and trusts have reduced funding for the doubling up of care workers on visits, despite some providers risk assessments stating that two carers were required for personal care, for example, getting a client into the bath. Nick Johnson, chief executive of the Social Care Association warned that the current high level of unemployment will lead to the recruitment of unmotivated and unsuitable people who do not genuinely care about the work they do.