Minimum Price for Homecare
The Homecare Association has just shared their calculation for the Minimum Price for Homecare in England is £28.53, effective from April 2024, when the UK’s statutory National Living Wage increases.
The Homecare Association is the only membership body in the UK dedicated to supporting homecare providers. They ensure that homecare is valued so that everyone can live well at home and flourish within their communities.
Their Minimum Price of £28.53 per hour is the amount required to ensure the minimum legally compliant pay rate for Care Assistants (excluding any enhancements for unsocial hours working), their travel time, mileage, and wage-related on-costs. The rate also includes the minimum contribution towards the costs of running a care business, which complies with quality and other legal requirements.
The National Living Wage will increase by 9.8% to £11.44 in April 2024, the largest ever rise. This compounds an existing deficit – with NHS bodies and councils struggling to keep up with last year’s 9.7% rise.
Many homecare providers are paying headline rates above the National Living Wage to attract and keep Care Assistants in a tight and competitive labour market. Care work increasingly requires high skills and so we strongly believe that it deserves fair recognition and rewards.
The Homecare Association is calling on the Government to invest £8 billion more per year to increase wages for Care Assistants and ensure quality and sustainability of care services.
Please click the link below to read the report in full.