Care workers pay increase announced

30/09/2025

Today, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, has announced a £500m investment in the Fair Pay Agreement for adult care workers across England.

The Fair Pay Agreement will be negotiated by a new body of employers and trade unions to establish terms and conditions. The Adult Social Care Negotiating Body will be established in 2026, and the first Fair Pay Agreement - where care workers will see an increase to their pay - will come in 2028, following a public consultation.

Helen Wildbore, CEO of Care Rights UK, said “This investment is a critical first step in building recognition for the care workforce who are integral to safe and effective social care. Fair pay is essential for ensuring staff retention, especially with the sector facing restrictions on overseas recruitment, despite migrant care workers having been fundamental to the sector.

This must mark the start of funding a well-rewarded workforce for social care. It is too soon to say what impact this figure will have on hourly pay by 2028, meanwhile care staff are facing increasingly complex challenges and will be taking on more responsibility under the 10 Year Health Plan. We urge the Government to review this timeline - sector reforms like this are needed now.

A Fair Pay Agreement needs to come with broader work to recognise and value care work as a vital public service - we’re calling for mandatory training as part of the Care Pathway, and for care workers to be registered. Today’s announcement must be followed by greater commitment for care workers, and funding reforms across the sector to pay for it.

The people we support need a robust workforce who are trained and rewarded for their essential role in providing the best quality of life for older people receiving care.”