We need to go further to attract, retain and develop a talent pool for the future.
Providers in many areas are reporting that the national legal minimum wage is insufficient to attract and retain skilled careworkers and a wage equivalent to NHS Band 3 healthcare assistants of £11.14 per hour, is required.
Based on the Homecare Association’s costing model, a fee rate of £26.31 per hour would be required to pay careworkers £11.14 per hour plus cover the other operating costs, most of which are related to meeting care regulatory requirements. These include management, supervision, training, recruitment, IT, telephony, PPE and supplies, regulatory fees, insurance, rent, rates, utilities, governance, legal and HR fees, business administration and a surplus for investment.
The Homecare Association is calling on central government to invest properly in homecare, so we can address unmet need, reduce inequalities, extend healthy life expectancy of older and disabled people and reduce pressure on the NHS.
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