To ask the Minister of Health to detail the steps he is taking to (i) improve pay and conditions for paid carers; and (ii) identify and support unpaid carers.

I recognise the need for action to support the social care sector, and those working in it. It is clear that improving pay and conditions for those working in social care, and across the wider health and social care sector must be a key focus moving forward. My predecessor’s immediate priority on his return to post, was to see pay negotiations taken forward and concluded without undue delay, for health and social care workers in the statutory sector.

In recognition of the challenges facing the independent social care sector, on 22 March a £70m funding package, across a range of service provision, including domiciliary care, was announced. The purpose of this was to ensure independent sector providers had the necessary funding to meet the challenges of increases to national living wage from the beginning of April.

This funding also included an increase in the regional domiciliary care rate paid to independent sector providers increased from £18.54 to £20.01 per hour for 2024/25. Whilst any additional funding has allowed employers to offer enhanced rates of pay, and better terms and conditions, my Department has no remit to direct private companies as to the rate they pay their staff, or the terms and conditions that they offer. My officials have however written to all independent sector social care employers noting the previous Minister’s clear intent that the additional funding was to enable employers to stabilise the social care sector workforce through enhanced rates of pay, and better terms and conditions.

Structures have also been established under the Social Care Fair Work Forum to consider how we could move the sector to a Real Living Wage employer base and significant work is ongoing to build the case for the additional funding that will be required to deliver this.

In addition, in recognition of the fundamental need to deliver reform and transformation in Health and Social Care, my Department has established the Adult Social Care Collaborative Forum and the Children’s Strategic Reform Board. Within these Fora, there are workstreams focused on supporting, developing, and improving the social care workforce.

The workstreams are implementing a range of measures that include:

Publishing a Social Care Workforce Strategy which will set out a vision to develop a sustainable social care workforce over the next 10 years. The strategy will include actions to develop career pathways, support the training and education of the workforce, and to raise the profile and recognition of the social care workforce as a skilled and competent workforce. It is anticipated that the Strategy will be published in late 2024.

In partnership with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council, work is ongoing to develop the training, career, and qualification pathways for the social care workforce.

In partnership with all stakeholders’ social care campaigns are ongoing to raise the profile and recognise the significant contribution that the social care workforce provides.

In respect of support for unpaid carers, the Social Care Collaborative Forum includes a Supporting Carers Workstream, co-chaired by Carers NI and my Department. The workstream has been established with a workplan focused on Carers specific issues, including exploring potential opportunities to identify unpaid carers and encourage them to self-identify and seek support, and exploring how we can improve information and advice, and registration for unpaid carers.