Ideal Carehomes staff rewarded with second pay rise in six months

Residential and dementia care provider, Ideal Carehomes, has announced a second pay increase in six months for its "highly skilled and genuinely caring" staff.

Back in October, staff were awarded a five per cent increase as a thank you for their continued dedication. Now, from 28 March, staff at Ideal Carehomes will receive an additional four per cent increase, which takes all salaries significantly above the current real living wage.

Managing director, Stacey Linn, said, “The commitment from the whole Ideal Carehomes team throughout the pandemic has been incredible and inspiring. Our staff have maintained the quality of care delivered to our residents throughout, making sure that their daily lives are full of fun, love and care and reinforcing to us that we employ the best staff in the sector.

“The pandemic has shown the public that people working in care homes up and down the country are highly skilled and genuinely caring, and this is something we have always been passionate about. For far too long, the social care sector has been deemed ‘unskilled’ and ‘entry level’ and I am proud that as an organisation, we are leading the way on ensuring the remuneration of these amazing individuals is fitting to their important roles.”

All frontline care staff will benefit from the rise and Ideal Carehomes has put the increase in place in recognition of the high quality of care being delivered to its residents whilst the challenges of the pandemic have continued in to 2022.

Orla McDonnell, senior care assistant at Windsor Court care home in Wetherby is “delighted” to receive a second pay rise” and says: “It does really make you feel valued.

“Ideal Carehomes is a very supportive employer and I have always felt valued as a member of staff here. It’s a fun and rewarding place to work with so many opportunities to develop your career. We also have lots of other benefits, including a variety of health and wellbeing initiatives, such as our wellbeing Wednesdays, and access to confidential mental health support. It makes a huge difference to know you are valued and appreciated by your employer.”

Ideal Carehomes care assistants will now start on a minimum of £21,800 pa and through the Ideal Academy can be earning over £30,000 pa within two or three years.

Ms Linn added: “We are passionate about investing in our people, providing them with a rewarding and enjoyable career in care. We have development pathways in place to guide and progress our care teams, and we have a very strong focus on staff wellbeing, be that mental or physical, so that we are able to fully support every single employee within each and every care home.”

There is a huge range of job opportunities in the care home sector. If you are looking for a job in social care, click here for the leading UK care home jobs board.