HC-One, the UK’s leading care provider, has announced its largest ever investment in pay to ensure that experienced and trained carers can earn above the Real Living Wage in recognition of their skills and dedication.
The investment of over £17 million, above usual annual increases, in a new sector-leading pay and reward offer will provide support for new and experienced Colleagues to grow and develop their skills in care.
In a sector facing significant workforce recruitment and retention challenges, the initiatives announced by HC-One will make great strides to help attract and retain talented, dedicated individuals to a rewarding career in the care sector.
The new scheme, which HC-One has been developing over the past months in partnership with Colleagues, will introduce higher pay rates, greater pay transparency, and increased investment in the professional development and career progression of every individual who chooses a career with HC-One.
From early 2022, under the new scheme, every HC-One care Colleague who has two years’ experience will be paid above the Real Living Wage (£9.90/hour) regardless of their age. The final rates are subject to consultation with the GMB, the recognised union for HC-One’s care Colleagues.
In addition, new Colleagues who are just beginning their career in care will receive a pay increase after they have completed their first six months with HC-One, in recognition of the learning and experience gained. Colleagues in London will receive above the London Real Living Wage rate (£11.05/hour) after six months, to reflect the costs of living in the capital.
These standardised, fully transparent, pay scales will be introduced across all HC-One homes from early 2022 to allow Colleagues to see how they can develop their careers at HC-One. The pay scales will take into account different regional costs of living, being divided into three zones across the UK (London, Scotland and the South East, and the rest of the UK).
The enhanced pay and reward offer builds on HC-One’s April 2021 announcement of a minimum 3% pay-rise for all Colleagues, and introduction of £9 per hour minimum pay for care Colleagues regardless of age. Carers in Scotland will continue to be paid at least £10.02 per hour in line with the national Real Living Wage and the new national minimum hourly rate.
With the new enhanced pay and rewards scheme, HC-One will go further to incentivise new and existing care Colleagues to continue their career development in the sector, and to recognise the dedication and skills of longer-serving carers.
James Tugendhat, Chief Executive Officer of HC-One, said: “Our new pay and reward offer is designed to help us to attract and retain the very best people to provide high quality, kind care to our Residents and to help us achieve our mission to be the first choice for families, Colleagues and Commissioners in the communities we serve.
“It is important to us that HC-One is an environment where Colleagues are supported to grow and make the most of the award-winning learning and development opportunities we offer at all levels of the organisation.
“We are grateful to have the financial support of long-term owners who continue to recognise that tackling the sector-wide workforce challenges is a priority, and who have enabled us over the past six years to invest in our HC-One Colleagues.
“We look forward to continuing to work closely with Commissioners and our local authority partners to further recruitment and retention initiatives, building on the welcomed support of the Government including the £162.5 million Workforce Recruitment and Retention Fund in England.
“Our care Colleagues contribute an incredible amount to the communities we serve. Our enhanced pay and reward strategy recognises that value, and is the significant next step on our ongoing journey to ensure that the social care workforce is well rewarded, respected and professionalised.”
