Residential care in Britain is heading for a crisis as staff morale plummets and vacancy rates soar, unless the local government employers increase their pathetic 7% over three years with strings offer, warns UNISON.
Low pay, serious staffing shortages coupled with increased standards and regulation leading to increased work demands is the root cause, according to a new survey of residential workers carried out by UNISON.
It found that nearly half (41%) earn less than £6 an hour, and three-quarters earn less than £7 an hour. Their pay would increase by only 16p an hour under the current offer. And a third of them are looking for other work.
UNISON National Secretary, Heather Wakefield, said:
ÒOur survey shows that residential care workers involved in intensive, high dependency care are still being paid a pittance. It underlines just how pathetic the employersÕ pay offer is this year. It will only make the staffing shortages worse and force low morale among staff even lower. It would also rob residential care workers – mostly women – of unsocial hours payments. Why on earth would they want to accept it? This survey just serves to reinforce our determination to win a better deal for our members.
ÒWe also surveyed a small number of residential care home owners or managers, the majority of whom (80%) consider pay rates to be too low and are facing recruitment or retention difficulties through competition in local labour markets. That just shows that when morale plummets staff will vote with their feet and go to the nearest supermarket where they can earn more for less.Ó
The survey of residential care workers, *I Love My Job, But …, found:
92% are committed to residents they care for
66% are committed to their employer
90% say work is becoming more demanding
86% say work is becoming more stressful
79% say their job is getting harder, with no pay increase
75% say they spend less time with residents than 4 years ago
75% have to cover for absent colleagues/vacancies (26% all the time)
47% work excessively long shifts
56% report increased workload
32% are looking for other work.
Residential care owners or managers surveyed found:
92% said better pay would improve recruitment
85% had recruitment or retention problems through competition locally
80% considered pay rates too low
79% would be prepared to pass on increased fees to staff as increased wages
ends
The survey was carried out at the end of 2003 to provide an insight into the experiences of residential care workers, covering pay, training and changes in conditions of employment. 1,809 responded. The data was analysed by NOP and a report prepared by MutualAdvantage. A total of 53 organisations provide residential care also responded to a separate survey questionnaire.