Call for proper funding and minimum standards in care sector

Public services union UNISON is concerned that minimum requirements for training and health and social care may be removed. The government’s Care Quality Commission is consulting over the minimum standards and the union is worried that employers will cut back on training if they are no longer required to meet these standards. This is particularly likely in the private sector. UNISON says that private companies are continuing looking to cut costs and already have a poorer record in training provision than local authority-run care services. [Read more at > UNISON (EN)->http://www.unison.org.uk

The vida services union used 12 May – national carers’ day – to stress the need to establish a proper training framework for 24-hour care. The union, which has drafted its own proposals on training, points out that people expect trained mechanics to work on their cars, but currently there is no requirement for those caring for the elderly and vulnerable to have any kind of training. The union also argues that recruitment to the sector needs to be improved and an important factor is having clearly organised shift planning so that workers know in advance when they are on duty and are not forced

The GPA-djp private services union has underlined the need for action in the care sector to address the quality and quantity of services and the pay and conditions of care workers, three quarters of whom are women. With demand increasing, particularly as a result of the ageing population, the union wants to see the federal government take responsibility to introduce national standards of care to end the variation between the regions and to increase funding to the sector to help address low pay and the widespread use of part-time work.