Westminster City Council increases carer pay by £1.4 million. A disability campaigner hails it as significant.
Hughes said the increase could be around £1.50 to £2 per hour. He thinks it may draw people from places like Amazon. Brexit made finding and keeping a carer tough, he noted. Many people left the city recently.
Hughes says British people often don’t want social care jobs, but the higher pay can help attract workers. The plan gives direct payment users a flat rate of £20 per hour. Most of this money should go to assistants.
Direct payments are funds from the council for care. The amount depends on someone’s needs. This gives disabled people more control over their care and allows them to hire their own assistants directly.
Direct payment users are employers. They must cover costs like National Insurance and pension contributions for their assistants.
With these costs, a person needing 21 hours of care can pay £15.80 per hour. That’s almost £2 more than the current living wage. Someone needing 16 hours can pay £15.72. Around 400 assistants could benefit from this change.
Nafsika Butler-Thalassis thinks higher pay means better care. She also believes it means increased job stability for carers. Good care can prevent health decline, benefiting the council.
Last year, the council raised agency carer pay by £1.50 an hour. Hughes depends on good carers for his well-being, as he has used a wheelchair since he was a teen. An incompetent caretaker can pose a danger.
The council also plans to add £1.2 million to help with care costs. About 460 disabled residents under 65 will keep more money. They’ll keep at least £272.69 weekly after paying for care. Councillors will vote on this budget on March 5.