Homecare services
Homecare is an essential service which gives people independence, supports families and saves lives. Today across the UK over 500,000 adults who are elderly, disabled or mentally ill receive homecare services through their local council. But that number has fallen by around a third since the mid-nineties as councils are increasingly rationing help only to those with the most critical needs.There are more than 200,000 homecare workers in the UK and UNISON represents members working in homecare across the public, private and voluntary sectors. Competition driven by cost-cutting is pushing down pay and conditions. This is causing chronic staff turnover and recruitment problems - making it difficult for people to form meaningful relationships with their care staff. As councils seek to save money they are cutting their well-trained homecare staff and replacing them with private agencies who promise to do it cheaper. Many of these agencies cut wages, don't train or vet staff, cut visit times and deliver poor services which are letting people down.
UNISON is campaigning for more funding and better quality for homecare services and we need your support.
Latest news
NHS whistleblowing helpline extended to social care staff
NHS whistleblowing helpline now extended to social care staff.Register for the Mental Health Seminar
Registration has opened for the Mental Health Seminar to be held on 8 February 2012 in London.Caring for our Future - UNISON response
UNISON's response to the Department of Health's consultation Caring for our Future has set out evidence of the negative impact that cuts are having on both services and jobs.Joint national Social Care and Homecare Seminar
UNISON’s National Social Care and Home Care Forums are hosting a joint seminar for members working in social care and home care. (October 2011)Personalisation E- Newsletter - May 2011
The main threats to the provision of local, quality personalised social care are the devastating social care budget cuts that we have witnessed over the last year. Newsletter - May 2011Up close and personal - Personalisation Toolkit for branches and activists
UNISON has been at the forefront of campaigning and negotiating to ensure that issues around the development of the care workforce have been placed at the heart of the personalisation of adult social care services. Our branches around the country have been dealing with the workplace issues that personalised care entails.You can do it!
UNISON launches an organising campaign for privatised homecare workers.< Back | More >
