Liverpool City Council plans to increase rates paid to care sector staff in order to aid recruitment and retention.
Following a consultation with providers, the move was announced in recognition of the staff who help and support over 11,000 people at home and more than 3,000 more living in residential and nursing homes.
A report to the council’s Cabinet on March 22nd will propose an increase which will cost a little over £9 million, paid for primarily through council funding, with £1.9 million being sourced from upcoming Government grants.
Workers will be seeing an increase in pay of 84 pence per hour while residential care staff for older people will see a rise of £19.63 per week and those who look after dementia sufferers will see an increase of £25.02 per week.
Staff wages for those who look after the elderly is set to go up by £21.68 per week, among a series of measures.
Companies who provide staff in supported living, extra care and day services will also see rises.
Cabinet member for Adult Social Care, Councillor Paul Brant, said: “Staff in the care sector do a tremendous job keeping some of our most vulnerable residents safe.
“Despite the financial challenges facing the city council, we are determined to do what we can to make sure staff get a decent pay rise, and we are committed to an ambition of them being paid the Real Living Wage. In calculating the revised rate we have looked closely at the amount paid by other local authorities in the region as well as taking into account the rising costs in the sector.”
If approved, the new rates will be implemented from April 1st, 2019 for all providers.
YouTube: Social Care Institute for Excellence