The UK’s leading care provider HC-One to make its biggest ever investment in pay to ensure its experienced and trained carers can earn above the Real Living Wage.
From early 2022, every HC-One carer who has two years of experience will be paid more than £9.90 per hour regardless of their age.
The final rates are subject to consultation with the GMB, the recognised union for HC-One’s care workers.
In addition, new starters will receive a pay increase after they have completed their first six months with HC-One, in recognition of the learning and experience gained.
Colleagues in London will receive above the London Real Living Wage rate of £11.05 per hour after six months to reflect the costs of living in the capital.
Carers in Scotland will continue to be paid at least £10.02 per hour in line with the national Real Living Wage and the new national minimum hourly rate.
Standardised, fully transparent pay scales will meanwhile be introduced across all HC-One homes from early 2022 to allow staff to see how they can develop their careers at the provider.
The pay scales will take into account different regional costs of living, being divided into three zones across the UK: London, Scotland and the South East, and the rest of the UK.
With the new scheme, an investment of over £17m, HC-One aims to incentivise new and existing staff to continue their career development in the sector, and to recognise the dedication and skills of longer-serving carers.
“Our new pay and reward offer is designed to help us to attract and retain the very best people to provide high quality, kind care to our residents and to help us achieve our mission to be the first choice for families, colleagues and commissioners in the communities we serve,” said chief executive James Tugendhat (pictured).
“We look forward to continuing to work closely with commissioners and our local authority partners to further recruitment and retention initiatives, building on the welcomed support of the government including the £162.5m Workforce Recruitment and Retention Fund in England,” he added.
