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Unison urged the new local government pay commission to recommend a substantial boost to social work salaries after damning new research shows 81 per cent of social workers do not consider their rate of pay fair, and 75 per cent believe they regularly work more hours than they are paid for, writes Clare Jerrom.

The problems are widespread across the care sector with over 80 per cent of senior care workers, residential care assistants and home care workers alongside over three quarters of residential social workers all in agreement that their pay levels are unjust, according to the surveys carried out by the public sector union in March.

“The problems are endemic across the group,” says Heather Wakefield, Unison’s head of local government. “They are all underpaid and they are all undervalued.”

The commission was established as part of the two-year pay settlement agreed by local government unions and employers last September. It will look at how low pay impacts on staff and service delivery, compare local government pay to public and private sectors and study the gender pay gap.

Unison carried out three surveys of social workers, home care workers and residential care staff for its own submission to the commission. The first survey of social workers paints a bleak picture of the profession as three quarters of the 440 surveyed said their job had become more difficult under New Labour, and only just over a quarter think they receive adequate training.

In addition, Unison highlights that social workers have been subjected to continuous change through numerous government initiatives designed to raise the standards of service delivery. Unison branches have also reported high levels of overwork, stress and demoralisation among this group.

High vacancy rates of 40 per cent increase workloads on social workers and multi-agency teams mean social workers work alongside similar professionals who earn higher wages.

“I am employed by the council, but seconded to the health service, sitting next to nurses who rarely have to work outside office hours but are paid more,” was one comment included.

While Unison identifies a number of factors which contribute to the recruitment and retention crisis – including inadequate resources and organisational instability -  it argues that poor and declining pay levels must be addressed.

The union calls on the commission to acknowledge the problems identified and “recommend substantial new investment in social work staff”.

The home care assistants survey found their perception of pay has worsened in recent years. In 2001 and 2002 around 57 per cent of home care workers did not feel their pay matched their level of responsibility, yet the latest survey in March found this figure rocketed to 82 per cent. This “possibly reflects the fact that many home care workers feel increasingly demoralised”, it says.

The significant pay gains hoped for under single status agreement, which requires employers to evaluate jobs and re-grade pay accordingly, have largely not materialised, the submission adds. And home care workers often feel coerced into accepting poorer terms and pay levels because of the threat of privatisation or redundancy if they do not do so.

Their role has changed significantly away from undertaking domestic tasks, and 67 per cent now predominantly deliver personal care. Many want their job title changed to reflect this.

“Home care workers are feeling devalued, unfairly treated, poorly paid and overstretched,” Unison states, urging the commission to make recommendations on pay and conditions commensurate with home carers’ skills, knowledge and responsibility levels.

The final survey of residential care workers again highlights an increasing frustration regarding pay. Eighty two per cent of residential care assistants thought they were unfairly paid compared to just over half last year. 

There is also a widespread view across the residential sector that employers have no idea about the exacting demands of the job, felt by half of senior care workers, 60 per cent of residential social workers and 63 per cent of residential care assistants.

Unsocial hours and experiencing abuse are commonplace. Residential social workers are typically required to work two or three weekends in four, and 83 per cent have experienced violence or abuse in the past 12 months.

In addition, the sector is unstable with significant pressures around costs often leading to home closures or transfer of employment to a new employer. Residential social workers also have concerns about their status and pay, feeling they are seen as less ‘professional’ or experienced than field social workers.

Despite this residential care staff demonstrate high levels of commitment with 66 per cent saying they enjoy their job and 62 per cent stating they are still committed to it. But both residential care assistants and social workers listed higher basic pay, long-term job security and better unsocial hours allowance as their three most important issues.

Unison’s submission says the lack of investment in residential care needs to be urgently addressed. “The local government pay commission will need to tackle this deep rooted cause of low pay and injustice as part of its recommendations.”

The commission will now consider the evidence and is due to report in September.

For case studies of home care workers click here

and for a residential care assistant case study click here