Residential care workers are more likely to be living in poverty and deprivation than other UK workers, new analysis has revealed today.
A new report by the Health Foundation shows one in five care workers are living in poverty, compared to one in eight of all UK workers.
The charity also found twice as many of these workers drew on universal credit and legacy benefits from 2017 to 2020 - 20% of these workers compared to 10% of all workers.
The Health Foundation is calling on the Government to provide additional investment to address low pay and poor working conditions in the social care sector.
Hugh Alderwick, director of policy at the Health Foundation, said: 'Social care workers – who are mostly women – play a vital role in society but are among the lowest paid workers in the UK, and experience shocking levels of poverty and deprivation. Many cannot afford enough food, shelter, clothing and other essentials, putting their health at risk.
'Sustained underfunding of social care has contributed to unacceptable pay and conditions for staff and major workforce shortages, with vacancies in England rising by 52% last year. This reflects political choices. If government values people using and providing social care, it must act to tackle low pay and insecure employment conditions in the sector.'
Council leaders warned that low pay is forcing staff to leave the sector, creating even more vacancies.
'Ensuring that care workers are paid fairly for their work is central to making a career in care affordable and appealing, as well as ensuring people who draw on care are best able to live an equal life,' said Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board.
