News alert / Homecare underpayments exposed

Just 5% of UK public organisations are paying the minimum price for homecare calculated by the Homecare Association. This minimum price is calculated to cover the hourly cost of paying the national living wage in England (the real living wage in devolved administrations) plus business costs and allowing around £1 for profit. This amounts to a minimum price of £25.95 in England. However, in a report by the association – The homecare deficit 2023 – the average hourly price paid for homecare in England was found to just £21.59. None of the local health boards in Wales, councils in Scotland or trusts in Northern Ireland met their country’s minimum price.