Six care homes run by Agincare, Country Court Care Homes and HC-One have signed up to a new charter designed to improve workers’ rights.

The agreement with Southwark Council means around 75% of employees in the borough will benefit from better working terms and conditions.

Raina Summerson, chief executive at Agincare, said: “We are proud to be an early adopter of Southwark Council’s Residential Care Charter as part of the transfer of care teams at the four care homes we operate in the borough. The charter outlies the high standards of person-centred care that our care home residents can expect from our trained professional teams. In return, Agincare will continuously support and develop its team members to work towards their goals and aspirations for a long and successful career. We continue to work closely with Southwark Council for a shared common goal that will improve the lives of care home residents and the people that support them.”

Jake Rollin, director of commissioned care and commercial support at HC-One, said: “The social care workforce play such a vital role in supporting residents and their families. We applaud Southwark Council’s Residential Care Charter as a meaningful and successful initiative that helps to give the care workforce the recognition they deserve, and ultimately positively contribute to the experience of care home residents in Southwark.”

Lauren Gordon, home manager at Camberwell Lodge Care & Nursing Home of Country Court Care Homes, said: “We are delighted and proud to be one of the first care and nursing homes in the borough to sign up. Our staff teams are at the heart of our care homes and Country Court are always keen to demonstrate how much we value everyone who works in our home. The team at Camberwell Lodge is over 120 staff strong and includes carers, nurses, the wellbeing team, chefs, maintenance, front of house and housekeeping. They will all benefit from our promise to uphold the ethical care requirements of the charter including paying the London Living Wage, paid handovers, permanent contracts, and free training. Our commitment to the charter further reinforces our pledge to put the safety and wellbeing of residents first.”

Improvements under the charter include:

• All care home staff being paid at least the London Living Wage
• All staff receiving occupational sick pay instead of statutory sick pay
• All staff being paid extra for unsocial hours (e.g. nights, weekends, bank holidays)
• Zero hour contracts not being used in place of permanent contracts unless requested by staff 
• Training must be free and carried out in work time
• Families and friends will be involved, at least annually, in the care planning of the residents.
• Residents and their families can expect to have meetings with their care home providers at least four times a year to discuss any issues they want to raise.