EMPLOYEES at three Ellesmere Port social care services have received a 10% pay rise, which is over twice the national average.
The adult health and social care charity, Making Space, announced that from April 2023, all employees would be paid across its nationwide services a minimum of £10.90 per hour.
Making Space employs 56 people in Ellesmere Port, at residential home Rivacre House in Overpool, and at two purpose-built extra care housing schemes for people aged over 55 at Hollymere in Westminster and Hartley Place in Whitby.
The figure has been calculated as ‘real living wage’ by the Living Wage Foundation and it is paid by around 12,000 UK employers.
This is the second year Making Space, which has its headquarters in Warrington, has committed to paying a real living wage.
The current National Minimum Wage hourly rate for adults ranges from £5.28 to £10.42, depending on age.
The increase will see full-time support workers with Making Space earn an additional £1,950 each year. Taking into account last year's rise of £1,700, frontline workers with the charity are now earning £3,650 a year more than in 2021.
The charity will invest £1.2 million to bring in the pay increases, which will benefit all frontline care and support workers as well as office-based staff.
'Frontline social care workers do one of the most important jobs in society'
Rachel Peacock, CEO, Making Space, said: "Frontline social care workers do one of the most important jobs in society, that is supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.
"The efforts of everyone at Making Space are nothing short of incredible and my colleagues have my absolute admiration.
"We truly value the hard work, commitment and sacrifice of the dedicated people who provide the best quality care and support to the people that use our services.
"Despite the ongoing challenges of their roles, our Making Space colleagues continue to provide outstanding care and support at our services all over the UK. They are professional and skilled people who deserve to be paid at a level that takes account of the real cost of living, which is why we are committed to paying the Real Living Wage.
"But while we will continue to do everything we can to attract and train the best people to deliver the highest level of support, we also need the Government to do more to reform the health and social care sector.”
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