NHS Hull CCG and the Humber Coast and Vale Integrated Care System (ICS) have agreed to fund the National Living Wage (NLW) increase of all staff working in regulated social care four months earlier than planned by the national government.
In October 2021, the government announced that the NLW would increase from £8.91 to £9.50 from April 2022. Locally it has been agreed to fund this wage increase four months earlier, covering the period from 1 December 2021 to 31 March 2022.
Hull City Council has now received this additional funding and will ensure that all staff in working in services registered with CQC will receive a one-off payment of the four months NLW uplift, or if already in receipt of the NLW, then an equivalent one-off payment. These payments should arrive in February salaries.
The sector has continued to experience pressures due to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, a high demand on services and the ability to recruit and retain skilled staff to support individuals and their carers and families across Hull. It is hoped the uplift will help relieve some of these pressures.
The uplift will cover all parts of the care sector that are registered with CQC: home care, residential and nursing homes and all ages over 18, including physical health, mental health and people with a learning disability.
Tracy Meyerhoff, Interim Director of Adult Social Care at Hull City Council said: “We and our local public sector partners acknowledge the essential role that care staff play within the wider health and social care system. We recognise the recruitment and retention challenges for care providers resulting in reduced availability of care and support for people in their own homes, more people awaiting the care that they need to leave hospital and even more pressure on staff who have already contributed so much throughout the pandemic.
“We really hope that our invaluable social care workers feel that this payment will make a difference to them.
“I’d like to thank all staff working across adult social care again for their continued hard work and commitment in these challenging times, helping us to ensure people in Hull receive the care and support they require.”
Councillor Gwen Lunn, portfolio holder for Adult Services and Public Health said: “The council are working closely with our care providers to maximise the use of all funding to support workforce retention and recruitment.
“We hope this early pay uplift will go some way towards expressing our gratitude towards care workers who have worked tirelessly during this pandemic.”
To view the many rewarding jobs and career opportunities in social care, visit the Proud to Care Hull website.
