Saint Cecilia’s Care Group Chairman Welcomes Fair Pay Agreement – But Warns Delay Until 2028 Risks Worsening Crisis

The Chairman of Saint Cecilia’s Care Group has welcomed the Government’s announcement of a Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) for the social care sector, unveiled at this week’s Labour Party Conference. But warns that delaying its implementation until 2028 risks undermining the very benefits the policy promises.

Mike Padgham who is Executive Chairman at Saint Cecilia’s Care Group and also Chairman of the Independent Care Group (ICG) joined fellow providers and colleagues in Liverpool on Monday for the Care Providers Unite March – a peaceful demonstration held outside the Labour Party Conference.

Mr Padgham said: “Introducing a Fair Pay Agreement is an historic step forward, and I take my hat off to the Government for recognising the skill, value and vital role of care staff. But the workforce crisis is happening now – not in three years’ time. Staff shortages are leaving families without care today, and unless urgent action is taken, the damage could be irreparable.”

The peaceful demonstration highlighted several pressing concerns:

• Recruitment crisis today: In North Yorkshire alone, vacancy rates in some services exceed 10%, with homecare particularly hard hit. Rural care homes face additional recruitment challenges, leading to closures that impact entire communities.
• Funding gap: The £500m earmarked for the FPA falls short of delivering parity with NHS pay. Without proper central government funding, providers risk financial collapse.
• Commissioning pressures: Years of underfunding mean councils are forced to commission care at the lowest possible rates. Unless local authorities are resourced to fund services properly, providers will struggle to meet fair pay obligations.
• Overseas recruitment cuts: Restrictions on international recruitment, combined with delayed fair pay, risk deepening the workforce shortage.

Mr Padgham stressed that while the FPA is welcome, it must form part of a wider programme of reform, including the creation of a National Care Service to provide long-term sustainable funding and integration with the NHS.

“You cannot fix the NHS without fixing social care,” Mr Padgham added. “Social care is already broken – but done properly, reform will not only save money for the economy and reduce pressure on the NHS, it will give people the quality of life they deserve. This must be actioned today, not in 2028. We have waited decades through successive governments for meaningful reform,” Mr Padgham said. “Our staff, our families, and our communities cannot wait another three years. We need urgent action – and we need it now.”