UNISON Calls On Government To Deliver Its Promise Of A National Care Service

A motion for the government to meet its pledge for a national care service, rather than “kicking the promise back into the long grass”, was passed at UNISON’s local government conference in Liverpool on Sunday.

The motion called for a national care service that is publicly funded, publicly delivered, and free at the point of use, ensuring high-quality care for all and fair terms and conditions for care workers.

“The care sector is a huge, multi-billion pound industry, which is worth more than the NHS, but you wouldn’t think so from the priority being given it by the government,” said Glen Williams (pictured above), chair of the local government service group executive.

The motion was brought by the East Midlands region, whose proposer said that the current social care model “has seen a drive to the bottom. We’ve seen pay destroyed across the sector, and we’ve seen terrible work conditions for our members, some of whom are the most vulnerable in society.

“The government’s announcement for a new review into social care, which will report back in 2028, is simply wasteful. Everyone in this room knows that the only real way to improve services is to bring them in-house, bring them back into local government and to reconnect with communities and scrutiny.”

At present, there are 40,000 different private agencies operating in adult and child social care in the UK.

“The social care system in the UK is in crisis, characterised by chronic underfunding, fragmented services, and a workforce that is undervalued, underpaid, and overworked,” the delegate continued.

“We have the devastating consequences of a privatised and market-driven care system, which prioritises profit over people and fails to deliver the quality care that individuals and communities deserve.

“Unscrupulous employers are using tactics that are tantamount to modern-day slavery to control their workforce. Workers are under threat constantly, not just at risk of being sacked, but of losing their place in this country.”

Speaking to delegates, UNISON member and domiciliary care worker Rachel Kelso said:
“I have been a care worker for seven years. It’s my vocation. I love doing it. We hear all the time that more care workers are needed, but in fact, this is because there are more than 30,000 care companies operating in England alone. Yet if you speak to people on the ground like myself, we often don’t get the hours we need. There are just too many care providers competing for packages. The pressure for profit is being taken out on people like me, the people with the quietest voices.

“It’s standard that we’re not paid for the time between visits, although gaps up to 60 minutes should be paid. I’m supposedly paid £14 an hour, which looks good, but when unpaid working time is taken into account, some workers are earning £9 or £10 an hour and unscrupulous employers are not topping this up to the national minimum wage.”

‘This isn’t efficiency, it’s erosion’

Becky Everett from the Midlands said:
“This is about the future of our communities and the dignity of the people we serve.

“Year after year, workers have endured cuts and a further £18 million of cuts or ‘savings’ have just been announced. In Nottingham the cost of outsourcing has led to low wages, inconsistent care and exhausted staff.

“In Leicestershire, we saw private contractors coming out of contracts, leaving the local authority to step in and pick up the pieces. And in Northampton, when the previous financial collapse made national headlines, it was the most vulnerable who paid the price of failed outsourcing and mismanagement. This isn’t efficiency. It’s erosion, it’s the harrowing running down of a service, which should provide dignity, safety and support.

“A better care system must start with valuing every worker, and that is not dependent upon immigration status. All workers should receive the same rights and pay. No more contracts to the lowest bidder. No more profit before people. No more patchwork of provision that leaves workers overstretched and communities underserved. This is about justice. Care can’t wait.”