Millions of care workers in England will be represented in upcoming negotiations on pay and working conditions through a new body established to deliver the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care.
The new Adult Social Care Negotiating Body will be set up by the end of the year, bringing together trade unions and employers to negotiate on behalf of the sector.
Through the Body, care providers and workers will have voting rights on key issues including pay, terms and conditions, and wider employment matters through a regular negotiation process.
The Body will also have an independent chair to oversee the negotiations between employer and worker representatives, who will be appointed in early 2027.
The first ever adult social care Fair Pay Agreement is a landmark reform that will turn the page on decades of low pay and insecurity for the 1.5 million people working in the sector.
It is backed by £500 million for the first agreement in 2028-29, boosting domestic recruitment and retention of carers while growing the economy, raising living standards and creating opportunities for all.
Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock said:
“Our 1.5 million compassionate, dedicated and hard-working carers deliver a vital service – making people’s lives better, giving them dignity, joy and independence.
“For too long this workforce – equal in size to our NHS – has been overlooked and forgotten, with care workers exploited by low pay and poor working conditions.
“This government is turning a page. We are giving care workers a voice and a fair deal, we are giving them better rights, proper training and opportunities for progression – and bolstering the workforce while making caring a more attractive career.”
Oonagh Smyth, CEO, Skills for Care, said:
“The 1.5 million adult social care workers deserve rewards that support recruitment and career progression. The Fair Pay Agreement is a crucial step toward improving care roles and securing skilled staffing.
“To succeed, this process must be backed by reliable data to support the UK’s 19,000 care providers. Aligning the Fair Pay Agreement with the newly expanded Care Workforce Pathway roles will directly link fair pay to career development. Together, they make adult social care a rewarding, structured profession.”
The first round of negotiations will commence in April 2027, and the first settlement will be introduced by April 2028.
Alongside the Fair Pay Agreement, the government continues to build on the first ever universal career structure in adult social care and professionalise the workforce, by introducing part 3 of the Care Workforce Pathway, including 10 new role categories such as care technologists and activity co-ordinators.
The pathway sets out clear roles, responsibilities and development opportunities, showing people how they can move into more specialist or leadership positions. It also now includes all adult social care roles – even those that are not health or social work, such as catering or maintenance positions.
The changes are part of the government’s mission to create a National Care Service and follows over £4.6 billion additional funding that has been made available for adult social care in 2028-29.
The government has increased the Carer’s Allowance by £2,750 for unpaid carers, the largest increase since the 1970s, and this week launched the first ever Unpaid Carers Action Plan setting out commitments to recognise carers earlier, refer them to the right services and help them reach their potential in education or employment while caring.
To support tens of thousands of people with disabilities, the government has provided £723 million to adapt their homes to their needs, at the same time as increasing the Minimum Income Guarantee so 150,000 people with disabilities get £400 back in their pockets to help with the cost of living.
Baroness Casey has made early recommendations which the government is progressing swiftly including:
- Establishing a new National Safeguarding Board, chaired by the Chief Social Worker which will focus on the protection on vulnerable adults and safe and effective services, alongside an urgent review of adult safeguarding statutory duties and powers.
- Creating a new dementia leadership role to drive forward action, alongside our Dementia and Frailty Modern Service Framework, and accelerate work to transform dementia care and research.
- Making sure those affected by motor neurone disease have rapid access to the care and support they need by creating a fast-track process and speed up assessments.
The Commission’s phase 1 recommendations for delivering a National Care Service will be published later this year, setting out the next steps for a system that is sustainable, joined-up and works better for those who rely on it.
