NCERCC response to CMA report re social care placements market study

The Competition and Markets Authority Children’s social care market study final report, now published, reports “Low pay for staff impacts (on) recruitment and retainment in the sector. It is reported that 1% of staff are paid below National Minimum Wage and 11% are paid less than the Living Wage Rate” and “We note that where providers make high profits, as we have found larger providers do, they could potentially afford to pay higher salaries.” A link is established, profits only come from the workforce.

Low skill is determined by the low qualification threshold to meet current regulation. To enable the meeting of needs and to create a resilient children’s homes sector will need the upskilling of the children’s homes workforce. To do so will require a new professional qualification. Low skill makes for low pay. Yet, already, there is a recruitment crisis, a shortfall of numbers and qualities. One of the primary reasons for this are low salaries and limited or minimal benefits.

We need the right pay to attract the right people to deliver the right response. Then we get right child in the right place at the right time.