Adult social care lacking good pay and working conditions, report finds

England’s adult social care sector is struggling to offer pay rates and progression that attract and retain workers in a system that is under substantial pressure, according to a group of academics.

In a new report, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), published today, “Pay in adult social care: how much does it vary and why does it matter?”, researchers offer insight into the causes of low pay in the sector and outline a series of recommendations for improvement.

This includes higher basic pay rates for care workers alongside sector-wide pay structures.

The research, led by academics from Manchester Metropolitan University in collaboration with the University of Surrey and the University of Manchester, underscores the pressing need for increased investment in the adult social care sector. 

This investment is seen as essential to alleviate pressures on the National Health Service (NHS) and to create a sustainable workforce.

Terms and conditions that work towards parity with NHS healthcare workers, improved HR support and increased flexibility will also support workers to carry out their demanding roles effectively, researchers say.

Carol Woodhams, Professor of Human Resource Management at the University of Surrey, said: 

“Our collaborative research sheds light on the stark realities of pay and employment conditions within the adult social care sector. 

“It is imperative that we address these disparities to create a more equitable system that values the dedication of care workers and ensures the delivery of quality care.”

Carol Atkinson, lead researcher and Professor of Human Resource Management at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “Our research highlights the issues around care worker pay, terms and conditions of employment and working conditions.

“The resulting report reflects a sector struggling to offer pay rates and pay progression that attract and retain workers in a system that is under substantial pressure. In addition, both independent sector providers and care workers noted the differences between adult social care and NHS terms and conditions.”

Care workers in England are paid at or little above the National Living Wage, with senior care workers earning only a small amount more.

The new report highlights how variation in pay has reduced over recent years, which researchers argue is a vital factor in retaining staff.

Providers report that the low fees offered by local authorities do not covering the cost of care, creating financial pressures that drive low pay rates and basic terms and conditions of employment.

The different fee levels across local authorities also creates complexity in pay setting processes, researchers say.

To address this, an investment in HR support and processes is recommended as being key to ensuring the future of the sector.

Professor Atkinson said: “Most independent sector adult social care providers are SMEs and may lack in-house HR support, which is vital in supporting the attraction and retention of employees. Care workers value positive working environments and strong workplace cultures that support them to do a demanding role effectively.

“We also found that working patterns are very important to care workers. While often challenging when delivering a 24/7 care service, offering flexibility that meets their needs is critical to their retention.”

Researchers drew data from the Skills for Care’s Adult Social Care Workforce Dataset (ASC-WDS) and through a survey link sent to all 18,000 adult social care providers in England.

In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 care providers and 20 care workers to gain their views on pay, reward and retention.

Note to editors: 

• For further information about the project, please contact: mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk 
• Professor Carol Woodhams is available for interview upon request.