Labour pledges to end 15-minute home care visits

Labour leader Ed Miliband has promised that the next Labour Government will end controversial 15-minute home care visits.

Mr Miliband made his pledge after the publication of an independent report by Baroness Denise Kingsmill, which found older people in nearly two-thirds of areas, are being given visits lasting just 15 minutes with many care workers not paid if they choose to stay longer.

The Kingsmill Review of exploitation in the care sector found between 150,000 and 220,000 care workers are paid less than the National Minimum Wage, often due to the failure to pay workers for time travelled between home care visits.

It also revealed that an estimated 307,000 care workers are on zero-hours contracts and 41 per cent of care workers do not receive specialised training to help deal with specific medical needs, such as dementia and stroke-related conditions, while nearly a third receive no regular training.

One of the central recommendations of the Review is that a new Care Charter should be developed by the Care Quality Commission to raise standards, end these time-limited visits, and introduce an inspection regime for the commissioning of care.

Baroness Kingsmill called care for elderly and disabled people “a major issue for the mid-21st Century”.

She said: “We are likely to live longer and a large number of us will require care in our final years. Improving conditions for care workers and care recipients is a journey: we need to act now, but we need long term change and to truly value care as essential to the well-being of some of the most vulnerable people in society.”

The report shows improvements could be made through re-allocating existing resources, as well as improving workforce planning and commissioning practices.

Some councils have adopted care charters to tackle exploitative working

Councils such as Southwark and Islington have already introduced a Care Charter with no additional funding from central Government which commit them to tackling exploitative working practices and ending the use of 15 minute slots.

The review also calls for the introduction of a Licence to Practice for care managers to improve management standards and training for new workers.

In response to the findings, Mr Miliband said: “Nine months ago, I asked Denise Kingsmill to lead an independent review to better understand and tackle exploitation in the care sector.

“Her report shows that the army of care workers, who carry out some of the most important work anyone can do looking after parents, grandparents and the most vulnerable in our society, are often exploited with real consequences for those they care for.”

He added: “I have already set out detailed policy to strengthen the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage and end exploitation of zero hours contracts.”

Care workers need to feel secure and supported

Robert Stephenson-Padron, managing director of Penrose Care, a home care agency in London where all care workers are paid the Living Wage, said: “Penrose Care praises Baroness Kingsmill's efforts to improve care in England.

“Her report at its core raises the fundamental issue that if we want care workers to help provide security and support to the vulnerable members of our society, we as a society need to ensure the care workers themselves feel secure and supported.

“As a pioneer of ethics in home care, Penrose Care consulted to the review and we feel the report is largely consistent with our own views on the first steps we as a society can take to fix our unfair social care system.”

Kingsmill Review recognises scandal of 'flying' 15-minute care visits

Leonard Cheshire has been campaigning for some time against 15-minute home visits. Jane Harris, managing director of campaigns and engagement at the charity said: “We are delighted that the Kingsmill Review has recognised the scandal of ‘flying’ 15-minute care visits. People who need help with personal tasks like going to the loo or eating should not be rushed because of squeezed care visits. Disabled and older people and their care workers all suffer from them.

“We should show more appreciation for the dedicated workers who day in, day out, care for disabled and older people. The vast majority are incredibly dedicated and talented and thousands of people rely on their support. Hopefully this report will stimulate debate about both how we can improve care, but also about how society celebrates and values the amazing people who already provide fantastic support every day.”

Janet Morrison, chief executive at Independent Age added: “Ultimately we have to ask ourselves whether as a society we are comfortable with seeing some of the most important professionals we and our family members will ever need to rely on getting paid a £6.31 an hour, if that. We believe that low pay and zero hours contracts in adult social care are symptomatic of a care system that is in crisis.”

The publication of the report comes as it was revealed that up to half of care providers may not be paying staff the national minimum wage. A freedom of information response from HMRC to Liz Kendall, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Care and Older People, shows that half of all providers inspected by HMRC were failing in some way to pay the NMW, with over £1 million owed to workers.

Shadow social care minister calls for HMRC to take action

Ms Kendall called it “shocking” that half of all providers inspected by HMRC have failed to pay the minimum wage.

She said: “Over a million pounds is now owed to care workers – yet neither HMRC nor the Government will tell us which companies are responsible or how many people have been affected.

“It is totally unacceptable that companies are failing to meet their legal duties. The Government must immediately name the companies concerned, HMRC must take action in each case where it finds non-compliance, and dedicated care workers must get what they are owed.”