A new report has revealed strong backing among MPs and the general public for social care worker pay parity with the NHS.

Community Integrated Care’s ‘Who Cares Wins: Unfair To Care 2024’  says there is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to end the enduring workforce crisis in social care, with exclusive public and MP polling finding consensus that the social care pay gap and workforce shortages must be addressed.

Teresa Exelby, chief people and corporate services officer at Community Integrated Care, said: “At present, many social care providers are struggling to survive, so providing parity of pay is impossible without government support. However, our evidence shows that this is one of the most socially, economically, and morally positive investments that the government can make. Investing in fair pay for social care workers will deliver the Social Care Triple Win – improving the lives of people who provide and draw on social care, providing more cost-effective and sustainable care and health services, and supporting economic growth and productivity.”

Receiving an average rate of pay estimated at just £10.93, the average social care worker would take home £7,617 more per year if they delivered a role with comparable responsibilities in the NHS.

The report reveals strong backing for social care worker pay parity with the NHS with over three-quarters of MPs (77%) thinking the current average pay rate for care workers is unfair.

More than 9 in 10 polled MPs (92%) say social care pressures are important to their constituents, with 8 in 10 MPs (80%) saying that the next government should act to improve pay, terms, and conditions for care workers.

In addition, 87% of the general public polled said the shortage of care workers is an essential issue for society, with 95% saying that social care workers deliver an important role for society.

With more than half of the population – 53% of people – stating that they will have a more favourable view of political parties that address the issues of low pay (just only 2% would have a less favourable view), the report argues that we are arriving at a moment where the public and politicians are increasingly aligned in the importance of addressing the challenges faced by care.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said:  “Most care workers are employed by private sector providers who set their pay and terms and conditions, independent of central government, however, on 1 April 2024, the government will increase the National Living Wage (NLW) for workers aged 21 years and over by 9.8% to £11.44 an hour. A full-time worker on the National Living Wage will see their gross annual earnings rise by over £1,800 per year.

“We are fully committed to improving our social care system, having already made up to an additional £8.6 billion available over this financial year and next to support adult social care and discharge. Additionally, we are investing up to £700 million on a major transformation of the adult social care system, which includes improving care workers’ skills and supporting career progression, and our MSIF Workforce Fund includes a particular focus on workforce pay.”