Care home provider in north of England rewards staff with 5% pay rise for work during pandemic

Care home provider, Ideal Carehomes, has given all its hourly paid staff a five per cent pay rise to recognise their hard work during the pandemic.

The care provider, which runs 28 care homes across the north of England and the midlands, has revealed it is investing £1.5m in its employees.

The pay rise is on top of the two per cent rise which was given in April this year and takes all salaries above the current real living wage.

The rise will mean over £1,000 extra per year for a care worker before tax.

Managing director, Stacey Linn, said, “I am so proud of the whole Ideal Carehomes team. They put themselves on the frontline throughout the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and were full of courage and commitment at a time when we all knew very little about the virus.

"Our pay rates were already higher than average but this five per cent extra is a thank you for everything our dedicated and highly skilled teams have done and continue to do."

Ideal Carehomes recently organised an internal awards ceremony to celebrate team members who have gone above and beyond in their roles. Staff have been also been given access to onsite counselling services, a wellbeing pathway has been put in place for physical and mental health and each team member received a HERO medal as a keepsake of the role they played on the frontline of the pandemic.

Luan Barlow, senior care assistant at Windsor Court in Wetherby, said: “The last 18 months have been difficult to say the least but I have always felt supported and valued. Working in the care sector is a vocation and we don’t do it for money, but to know that you are appreciated by your employer means a lot.”

Managing director, Ms Linn added: "We are a people business and our people are at the core of everything we do. It is our job to ensure that they are rewarded for their dedication and commitment via employee recognition and pay but also by supporting them through the tough times. As we all welcome a return to our ‘new normal’, our team continues to provide outstanding care for our residents and we will continue to care for our team."

Ideal Carehomes offer 24 hour residential and dementia care, with residents enjoying all the facilities and activities, plus opticians, hairdressing, chiropody, newspapers and other benefits on an inclusive basis.