Responding to the extension of the infection control fund announced by the government to help the care sector, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said today (Thursday):
“With a shambolic testing system and infection rates starting to skyrocket, care homes need all the protection they can get.
“Extending the funding was the least that could be expected, but the money is simply not getting through to the care staff that need it.
“Many are expected to get by on just £95 a week if they need to stay off work, when they deserve to be paid in full. Ministers must get tough with care employers.
“But the focus is still on care homes. Many care workers are also out in the community going from home to home. They and the people for whom their visits are essential have been given barely a thought.”
Notes to editors:
– A recent UNISON survey of care workers showed money from the infection control fund is not always getting through to the care workers themselves. Just 40% of all care workers said they had remained on full pay if they needed to take covid-related absence, dropping to just 25% for those working in care homes. Despite the existence of the fund 44% of all care workers that need to be off are only on statutory sick pay (8% said they received no pay). The figures for those working in care homes are 56% on SSP (10% on nothing at all).
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk