A new report on the state of the home care industry has found that home care workers are facing extremely difficult social, political and economic challenges in carrying out their roles.
The report, conducted by home care reviews site homecare.co.uk, surveyed 1,305 members of the home care workforce. The findings show that home care workers continue to be dedicated to their jobs – with 94% saying they enjoy the role and 81% not intending to leave the profession – but they are working in challenging conditions.
Care workers are facing tough economic times with over one in four (26%) not being paid the real living wage. Moreover, 38% are not being paid travel time – a widely documented poor practice in the industry. Job security is also highlighted as an area of concern, with 65% of care workers working for agencies that use zero-hour contracts.
Commenting on the report’s findings, Karolina Gerlich, Chief Executive of the National Association of Care and Support Workers, said: “Different options of contracts should be offered to care workers.
“Zero-hours contracts work if both sides understand the need and allow for flexibility and work together. Zero-hours contracts are unacceptable when they are used by providers as a way of keeping more people on for the benefit of extra availability, but create anxiety in care workers who then do not know how much they are going to earn next week.
“Additionally, it is unacceptable that some providers still do not pay travel time. Travel time is not an additional benefit but a legally required part of community care workers' pay. The guidance and enforcement of this must become stronger.”
Due to the nature of their work, they face a higher risk of abuse in the workplace than in other industries, with 65% reporting verbal abuse and 34% having received physical abuse while carrying out their role.
The workforce is also concerned with social and political changes happening in the industry and the impact it will have on their work. Short-term fears include 47% saying Brexit will have a detrimental impact on the provision of care workers. Whilst longer-term, 48% are concerned that their jobs might be replaced with the increase in automation in the sector.
The report also includes insight into what the workforce wants to see happen to attract more people to work in care. Of those surveyed, 45% said they would like to see an increase in pay, 16% think there needs to be better training and 38% want the prestige of care work to be raised.
Sue Learner, editor of homecare.co.uk, said: “Our first homecare.co.uk survey throws a spotlight on the humanity of the home care workforce and it is testament to their compassion and altruism that, despite often low wages and poor job security, the majority of care workers say they enjoy their job and have no intention of leaving the profession.
“It is time for the government to properly value care workers and celebrate the work they do by giving them the pay and status they deserve.”
www.homecare.co.uk
