Social care providers in Wales have called low pay for carers and nurses a “national disgrace” following public sector pay rises in other areas.<\/p>\n
According to Care Forum Wales, which represents 500 care homes and domiciliary care companies, it was a \u201ckick in the teeth\u201d\u00a0 for the frontline heroes who put their lives on the line during the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n
The fact that they were being ignored while almost 900,000 public sector workers, including teachers and doctors, were getting above inflation pay rises was galling.<\/p>\n
In Wales, pay rates are effectively determined by local councils who set the level of fees care homes and domiciliary care companies receive.<\/p>\n
As a result, say Care Forum Wales, wage levels have been unfairly suppressed by the local authorities who have managed the budgets for 25 years.<\/p>\n
Among those who hit out was Glyn Williams, owner of the Gwyddfor Care Home, in Bodedern on Anglesey.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201c \u201cIt\u2019s a national disgrace. Right from the word go our care workforce have been left in no man\u2019s land \u2013 not just on the front line but in no man\u2019s land.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a big fanfare from the Welsh Government about social care staff getting a \u00a3500 bonus but they haven\u2019t seen a penny yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, they hear that they\u2019re not deemed worthy of a pay rise like other key workers, even though they have put their own lives on the line protecting the vulnerable people they provide care for. It\u2019s a real kick in the teeth.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome don\u2019t even know if they\u2019ve got jobs in six months\u2019 time with the care sector having to take back all the staff who\u2019ve been on furlough or shielding.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of care homes have taken on staff to fill those posts and we have a lot of wonderful trainees who want a career in care and we\u2019re investing in them as best we can. What are we supposed to do with them now?<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact that the social care workforce isn\u2019t getting a pay rise in the same way as the other key workers is a kick in teeth for people we should be treating as the national treasures they are.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe authorities were shamed into publicly recognising the magnificent efforts of social care staff and they were eventually included in the clap for carers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat feels very hollow now. The support from the public has been absolutely amazing but it\u2019s shameful the UK and Welsh governments don\u2019t want to show their appreciation in more practical way with the financial reward that these Covid heroes deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, said: \u201cThe social care sector is of national strategic importance.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the First Minister, Mark Drakeford, says it is the invisible scaffolding that supports the NHS.<\/p>\n
\u201cSurely now we have got to recognise the care sector and particularly social care workers for the incredible value they provide for our communities and our society.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike the other key workers like teachers and police officers, social care workers\u00a0 deserve an above-inflation pay rise.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have got to make sure that working in social care is a career of the highest value.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of the people in care homes in Wales are publicly funded by local authorities.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter 25 years of local authorities managing the market, we have a very fragile sector that was in a critical state even before the coronavirus pandemic struck.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as they have been concerned, it\u2019s always been about cost rather than value.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the time for social care to be put on a pedestal alongside the NHS because they are symbiotic \u2013 they cannot work without each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople working in social care need to be rewarded like a proper profession instead of being treated like Oliver Twist asking for more gruel.\u201d<\/p>\n