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Vulnerable and disabled people are going without a wash, proper meals and trips to the toilet because care workers are too rushed to do their job properly, according to a report published today (Friday) by UNISON.
The report Making Visits Matter highlights the ongoing crisis in the UK’s care system, with three in five (63%) respondents getting just 15 minutes to help with personal tasks such as eating and drinking, or taking a shower.
The findings are based on a survey of 1,000 home care workers across the UK looking after people in need, including those suffering from dementia, strokes, Parkinson’s, or with learning disabilities.
Three-quarters (75%) of care workers responding to the UNISON survey said they ended up compromising the dignity of those they care for because they are too rushed – often because employers pressure them to fit in an excessive number of visits.
The majority (89%) of home care workers do not have time for a short chat even though the person they look after may not see anyone else that day, according to the survey.
The report also highlights the job insecurity faced by home care workers with more than half (52%) on zero hours contracts, and more than three in five (63%) not getting paid for the time it takes to travel between care visits.
Home care companies are issuing payslips that staff find hard to understand, says UNISON. This practice lets companies mask the fact that they are failing to pay the minimum wage, and stops workers receiving the money they are rightfully owed.
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Care workers and those they look after are suffering because standards are routinely being breached.
“Care staff try to do their best within a system that increasingly prioritises quotas over compassion. Elderly and disabled people are ending up lonely, without dignity and with their care needs unmet.
“Care workers and the vulnerable people they look after will continue to be failed by a flawed system unless the government acts.”
Notes to editors:
– The survey was carried out between February and April 2017 and included home care workers employed by local authorities and by private companies. The full survey is available here: Home care survey
– Local authorities reduced spending per adult on social care by 11% between 2009/10 to 2015/16, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
– Case studies of home care workers are available on request.
– UNISON is calling on the government to take meaningful enforcement action against care companies failing to pay the minimum wage. It also wants ministers to use powers under the National Minimum Wage Act to make employers print pay calculations on wage slips – enabling staff to determine if they are receiving a legal wage.
Media contacts:
Clare Santry T: 0207 121 5546 M: 07944 191479 E: c.santry@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Siobhan Cooley T: 0207 121 5555 M: 07703 678721 E: s.cooley@unison.co.uk
The article Care workers ‘too rushed’ to help vulnerable people wash, eat or visit the toilet first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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Commenting on the government’s decision today (Thursday) to extend the suspension of minimum wage enforcement in the social care sector, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:
“Penalties are needed to make sure unscrupulous bosses abide by the law. But this extended amnesty is a green light for dodgy employers to carry on paying illegal wages without fear of ever being punished.
“In the absence of fines or the public shaming of any firm found guilty of poverty pay, the UK’s minimum wage law is being seriously undermined.
“While there may be some sympathy for charities who owe their sleep-in staff money for not paying the minimum wage when they should have been, many care providers are private equity-backed companies that can well afford to pay up.
“No government or employer should be above the law. By suspending enforcement, we have grave concerns ministers may well have been acting unlawfully and using powers they don’t have.
“It’s time ministers got tough with the minimum wage cheats, give low-paid care staff a decent pay rise and put more money into the care sector.”
Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen T: 0207 121 5463 M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
The article Ministers may be acting unlawfully with minimum wage amnesty, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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UNISON has welcomed the decision to “insource” admin jobs at the West Sussex multi-agency safeguarding hub that deals with children and young people.
Administration at the hub is currently covered by a county council contract with Capita.
But now the council says it is bringing the admin jobs under direct management because “vulnerable children are at risk of harm due to insufficient numbers of assessments being undertaken within 24 hours”.
UNISON south east regional organiser Caroline Fife (pictured) said that the union is pleased at the decision, adding: “The reality is it could do little else if it cannot meet its statutory obligations to vulnerable children by sticking with the Capita arrangement.
“That is very worrying indeed.”
She added that “UNISON will co-operate fully” as the jobs are transferred to the council over the next week under TUPE regulations, which protect workers’ terms and conditions.
Ms Fife noted that the union “has been saying for years that this privatised contract is bad value for taxpayers, delivers poorer services and hammers staff, as their pay and pensions are reduced.
The contract was set up in 2012 with a view to Capita taking on ever larger parts of the council’s services.
“That hasn’t happened and you can see why,” she added. “UNISON has played an important role for taxpayers and our members in scrutinising this contract.
“The council is conducting a broader review of the rest of its outsourced back office services and we await the outcome of that with interest.”
UNISON’s West Sussex branch commissioned independent research on the contract in 2015 and the report – Outsourcing services in local government: the West Sussex experience – can be downloaded from the UNISON branch website.
The article UNISON welcomes West Sussex jobs move first appeared on the UNISON National site.
Commenting on the Leader’s speech to the Labour conference in Brighton, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:
“Today we heard a defining speech from Jeremy Corbyn, full of hope.
“Labour is a government in waiting – and the next election can’t come soon enough.”
Media contact:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: media@unison.co.uk
The article “A defining speech, full of hope”, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) September 26, 2017
Today at Labour conference has been a great day for UNISON and a great day for public services.
I was proud to move the motion at today’s conference on public sector pay. Everyone working in our public services and everyone who relies on those services has suffered thanks to the government’s painful pay cap.
Today I called on the Labour Party to go further than it had gone before, not just scrapping the cap but committing to above inflation pay rises every single year under the next Labour government, until pay is back to at least pre-Tory austerity levels.
That is the very least that Labour should be calling for.
So I was delighted that Labour conference gave our position – and our Pay Up Now campaign – their full support today, unanimously supporting our motion. That means that after too many years of equivocation, Labour policy is now fully aligned with that of UNISON – real pay rises, year on year, for all public sector workers.
That was a big victory for our union, for UNISON members and for millions more working in our public services.
Yet that wasn’t the only success we had in Brighton today. Today, the Labour Party also pledged to stop using failed PFI programs, and to cancel all existing PFI contracts. That’s something I have been campaigning on for 15 years. In fact, at the 2002 Labour conference I moved the motion opposing the then Blair government’s PFI plans. Finally, after too many wasted years, vindication.
And then, in the final vote of the day, another opportunity for our union to stand up and make our mark. A vote was called to “reference back” a Labour policy document, because the commitments it made weren’t strong enough on reversing welfare cuts. Thanks to UNISON’s votes in the union section, voting with the overwhelming majority of Labour members in the hall, Labour must think again, and commit to opposing all welfare cuts. That’s what UNISON members want, and that’s what we want Labour to deliver.
Real pay rises, an end to PFI and fighting welfare cuts, that’s what UNISON achieves in Labour, working with our friend Jeremy Corbyn. Today was a good day – I hope there are more to come this week.
The article Blog: A great day for UNISON and public services first appeared on the UNISON National site.
Commenting on the announcement from Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell that a Labour government would bring existing public finance initiative (PFI) contracts back in-house, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:
“It’s good news that Labour plans to tackle the beleaguered private finance initiative.
“Since PFI started, UNISON warned it would lead to long-term debt problems, a burden the country couldn’t afford to carry.
“It’s like buying a house on a credit card. Sky-high interest payments mean far less money for patients and children’s education.”
Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Clare Santry M: 07944 191479 E: c.santry@unison.co.uk
The article UNISON welcomes Labour plans to tackle PFI first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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— Playground Markings (@playareamarking) September 25, 2017
