Care & Support Fees Consultation - 2021/22

Overview

Caring for frontline staff as council leader leads way on pay boost

Thousands of frontline care staff across the borough are in line for a pay boost after the council backed the introduction of the real living wage.

Council leader Allen Brett led the way in campaigning for the increase to ensure workers dealing with the coronavirus pandemic are better paid. From early next year hundreds of workers across the local care sector will have their pay packets boosted to £9.50 an hour. The green light to approve the rate was given at a recent meeting of the council’s Integrated Commissioning Board. It means an estimated over 5,000 care workers across the borough of Rochdale will benefit from the pay boost.

Rochdale is only the second council across Greater Manchester to approve the real living wage for local care workers. Calculated independently from government, the real living wage was devised by the Living Wage Foundation. Councillor Brett said: “Our local frontline care workers have shown incredible fortitude, resolve and commitment over the last few months. We clapped them, we thanked them and now it’s time to reward their pay packets. “That’s why from the spring, care workers across the borough will move to the real living wage, something I am proud to have campaigned and implemented as council leader. Looking after elderly and vulnerable residents is an essential role and the work of our care staff during the covid-19 pandemic has been absolute incredible. “Staff have gone the extra mile to care for people, so I wanted to reward them not just with warm words but with real action. The pay boost is the least they deserve for their life-saving work on the frontline of our response to the pandemic. Thank you to each and every one of them for their continued work, underlining Rochdale’s caring side at its very best."

This is a consultation to obtain care & support provider views on the council’s fee setting process for 2021/22.