Responding to the Health Foundation report on poverty in the care workforce, Executive Director of RCN England Patricia Marquis said:

“This report highlights the urgent need to improve pay and conditions for care workers. It's unacceptable that those caring for some of the most vulnerable are forced to are forced to live in poverty, unable to pay for food, and use welfare payments to top up their salaries.

“It is a sad state of affairs that such a vital workforce is so poorly valued and little wonder that there are so many vacancies and care homes are unable to recruit staff, leaving so many without access to the care they deserve. Ministers must not delay in introducing a fair pay agreement and a new body to improve conditions for care workers, as well as rooting out exploitation. Failure to do so will only undermine ambitions to move care into the community and deepen a social care workforce crisis that harms the vulnerable.”

Ends