i News Budget 2021 Feature

Steve O’Brien, is the founder and chief executive of OUTT, a job portal that pairs social carers with care providers such as residential care homes, homelessness hostels and drug rehabilitation centres.

Mr O’Brien told i paper : “We have 600 care workers on our books and one of the biggest issues for them is pay. Increasing key worker pay in social care is something I hope the Chancellor will include in his Budget.

“I’d like to see Mr Sunak introduce key worker status for sections of employment, especially in social care, and allocate additional tax allowances to that status. In doing this, the pay rise would go directly to the key worker without the complication of funding social care. An increase in funding to social care – which is needed – will not necessarily equate to a pay rise.

“There are 120,000 social care vacancies in the UK and looking at unemployment figures, I’d like to see some encouragement for those recently out of work to retrain in social care roles – even if it’s a short-term stepping stone until the economy recovers. I’d like to see a provision for care apprenticeships. If we can get reassurance for funding and support for care, it could be a win-win.”

 

A further article was also posted as a reaction follow up to the budget, where disappointment was expressed that social care remained unacknowledged.