Becoming a home care assistant in Suffolk was one of the most rewarding experiences of my time in care. It opened my eyes to the value of care delivered in the home and the huge difference it can make to people’s lives.
Home care can mean the difference between:
- A couple who haven’t spent a day apart in 60 years continuing to live together – still side by side, still sharing every day
- Or being separated after 60 years, as one becomes more vulnerable and is moved to a care home, where their partner is reduced to visiting hours
With our ageing population, home care is only going to become more important. It’s clear that the Government sees care at home as the preferred route – it’s more cost-effective, and in many cases it’s what people want.
As I said, becoming a home care assistant was a fantastic experience. I’ve supported people in care homes who were separated from their families, and I’ve seen others thrive in their own homes, living full and happy lives with a little extra help.
But here’s the truth: it wasn’t financially viable.
Most of the people I supported were allocated just 30 minutes of care by Social Services or NHS Continuing Care – not based on need, but on budget. There was no travel allowance. If it took 15 minutes to get to the next client, that time was unpaid. It was common to start work at 7am, finish at 10.30pm, and be paid for only 8 hours.
There are so many issues here – and this is just scratching the surface.
1. Thirty minutes is rarely enough
Half an hour to assist with personal care, showering, getting dressed, administering medication, applying creams, making breakfast, tidying up, emptying the bin – the list goes on. Many of these people are elderly, anxious after a fall, or simply lacking confidence. They need patience, encouragement, and time. And often, we were the only faces they’d see all day. How about a little time to chat?
2. Home care workers go above and beyond – unpaid
In my experience, most carers don’t rush. They refuse to cut people off mid-sentence. They offer the time and dignity every person deserves. But it comes at a cost – they’re often out of the house for 15.5 hours and paid for just half of that.
It’s criminal.
I would invite Jeremy Hunt, Stephen Barclay, Caroline Dinenage and Steve Brine to try it – just for a week.
- Jeremy Hunt – Before politics, Jeremy ran an educational publishing business and set up a charity supporting AIDS orphans in Africa.
- Stephen Barclay – A qualified solicitor, he worked as an insurance lawyer and regulatory affairs expert in the finance sector.
- Caroline Dinenage – Spent over 20 years running her own manufacturing business.
- Steve Brine – A former BBC local radio journalist who later worked in marketing and consultancy.
With all due respect – why are those leading our health and social care systems people with seemingly no hands-on care experience?
Are these really the people who will fight to ensure our parents, grandparents and children receive the care they deserve – and that those providing it are paid a living wage?
Health and social care in this country has been underfunded, overlooked and politicised for too long.
At the very least, we should expect:
- Service users to be given adequate time for proper, dignified care
- Government funding to support the NHS and Social Services to deliver this time
- Care that enhances quality of life, not just covers the basics
- High-quality training for all care staff
- A living wage for care workers – including pay for travel time
There are many care providers doing their best, working tirelessly to uphold high standards and improve people’s lives. But without meaningful backing from Government, we are all operating on a shoestring.
We all want the best for our families – care that lets our loved ones live well despite their needs. That’s only possible if care providers unite, speak honestly, and receive the support they need to invest in their teams.
If you’ve got thoughts or questions about this post, please email me at adam@ocalahealthcare.co.uk.
These views are based on my personal experience in care – and I welcome discussion from those who agree or disagree.