Council chiefs in Trafford say there has been 'a significant improvement' in pay for workers in the older people's care sector. In January the authority pressed ahead with its ambition to encourage care providers to pay the Real Living Wage (RLW)- £10.90 an hour.
All 28 providers of homecare in the borough now pay the rate to their care staff compared to January when the number was only 21. However, a report to Trafford's executive committee said that the response from firms running older people's residential and nursing care homes was 'more mixed'.
"There were salaries linked to progression within the service and lower rates for new starters," said a report by Counc Karina Carter, executive member for adult social care. "We surveyed all 32 care homes in the borough and the position has improved significantly with only 11 currently not paying the RLW to their care staff."
The survey of learning disability and mental health providers also found a mix of rates being paid. All of the day services for people with learning disabilities and older people that responded (11) pay the RLW to their care staff. One has yet to respond.
Most of the 11 learning disability providers in Trafford pay the RLW to their care staff and the council's in-house disability service also pays the rate. One provider pays more than the RLW, but not to their administrative staff. Another provider has a sliding scale and pays the RLW for staff working with more complex needs but not for others. A third one also pays the RLW for staff who previously worked for the NHS but not for other employees.
"Of the eight learning disability providers who do not currently pay the RLW for any staff, one is Manchester based who has recently set up a service in the borough and commands some of the highest rates that we pay because of the complexity of the young people they support," said Coun Carter. "One of the learning disability providers also provides mental health services and they have a three-tier wage system which means some care staff will be paid the RLW, but others not."
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