Date: 17/03/2021   |   Category - News

Following today’s announcement by the Minister for Health and Social Services on a payment of £500 (after deductions) for social care and NHS staff , Cllr Huw David (Bridgend), WLGA Spokesperson for Social Care and Health said:

“We welcome this additional payment for social care staff, and the first payment for NHS staff, in recognition of their immeasurable contributions and sacrifices in supporting the most vulnerable people in our communities during the COVID pandemic.  We are extremely grateful for all they have done, and in return we must ensure we continue to support and care for the workforce itself, including ensuring access to mental wellbeing services, as this pandemic has not yet ended and their continued commitment is still needed for the foreseeable future.”

“Looking forward, local government is committed to ensuring the social care workforce is valued and has parity of esteem with the NHS.  The WLGA Manifesto for Localism calls for additional investment in the social care workforce, including ensuring the workforce is appropriately rewarded for the invaluable work that they do and have a pathway to career progression within a professionalised care sector. We believe there must be an ambition in the new Welsh Government following the Senedd election in May and the resources provided to ensure the Real Living Wage is paid for the whole social care sector as a minimum.”

Notes

This will be a one-off payment for NHS and social care staff, equivalent to £735 per person, to cover the basic rate of tax and national insurance contributions.

-ENDS-