Council approves pay increase for care providers

Care providers in Wolverhampton will see their pay rise by more than 7%

A city council has approved plans to give care providers a pay increase of more than 7%.

Nursing and residential care providers in Wolverhampton who support adults under 65 and older people, including those with dementia, will see their weekly pay rise by 7.45%.

The hourly rate paid to home care providers, for reablement and home-based respite, to supported living services and providers of day care services will also go up by the same percentage.

The agency rate for direct payments for adults, carers and children will rise by 7.45% with a 9.79% uplift for employed and self-employed personal assistants.

The new fee structure will be introduced from 1 April after the proposed increase was approved by Wolverhampton City Council on Wednesday.

Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the council’s cabinet member for adults and wellbeing, said the authority realised providers were facing a “perfect storm” of rising costs and recruitment issues.

"Our city's adult social care providers have a vital role to play in supporting our most vulnerable residents, and we are determined to do all we can to support the sector,” she said.