National care service
Our current care system is unfit to meet the needs of the public. It’s time for a national care service
Social care is broken
Most social care in England is commissioned by local government and delivered by private companies, in a system that has been run down by huge funding cuts and profit extraction.
National standards are not enforced, and care workers face poverty wages and exploitation. Despite being a difficult, skilled job with huge responsibilities, pay for care workers is at rock bottom.
What do we want in a National Care Service?
The national care service will give access to quality care for all those who need it. It will be focused on providing world-class social care, not delivering profits for shareholders.
Pay for care workers is at rock bottom, with care workers often taking home even less due to inadequate travel time or overnight pay. We want our national care service to have national pay, terms and conditions for all care workers and a proper workforce plan, and long-term funding, for a high-quality care service.
As part of the national care service, we want to introduce an emergency pay boost that will be available to all care workers - supporting our current care workers, and helping to end the staffing crisis.
What can I do?
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Related news
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Making a national care service – from roadmap to reality
UNISON hosted the Fabian Society’s National Care Service Summit, bringing together stakeholders to discuss the practicalities of creating a national care service
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A national care service is the only way to prevent more deaths
Fundamental reform is needed to create a system fit for the future
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UNISON calls on government to deliver its promise of a national care service
‘This is about justice. Care can’t wait’
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