The Department of Health and Social Care has published its response to the Fair Pay Agreement consultation. This sets out further detail on the first Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care, the Negotiating Body that will bring together employers, employees and other key stakeholders, and the role of the Care Provider Alliance (CPA), of which VODG is a member, in coordinating employer representation.
Responding to the Government's announcement, Dr Rhidian Hughes, Chief Executive of the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) said:
‘VODG, and our members, have long called for better pay and reward for our care and support workforce. The Fair Pay Agreement is an important opportunity to realising these ambitions. But for it to deliver meaningful and lasting change, it must be backed by sustainable funding, especially for the care and support disabled people rely on which are wholly funded by the public purse. This cannot be a one-off investment. VCFSE providers are today facing significant financial pressures, with fees from local authority and health commissioners failing to keep pace with the rising cost of delivering essential support that disabled people are legally entitled to. Around 80% of those costs relate to the workforce.
‘For the Negotiating Body to succeed, it must have the authority to make a difference, be supported by a credible long-term funding settlement, and reflect the diversity of the sector it represents.
‘VODG is a founding member of the Care Provider Alliance (CPA). We are pleased the CPA has been confirmed to coordinate employer representation on the Negotiating Body. It is essential that providers of every type, size and specialism have a meaningful voice in shaping an agreement that will directly affect the people they employ and support.
‘As part of our work in the CPA, VODG will ensure that the expertise and experience of VCSFE organisations providing care and support for disabled people is fully represented throughout the process.’
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VODG responded to the government’s consultation on the FPA as part of the Care Provider Alliance and independently, informed by members who come together as part of VODG’s Employment Rights Sounding Board.
The CPA to the Government's response to the consultation can be read here.
The Government's press release about the FPA can be found here.