Arcadia Care Homes has given all staff a 30% pay rise from this month (April).
The Wales-based company, which operates Aria Care Home in Newport, decided to implement the increase in recognition of the skills required for care work and to make employees “feel more fairly compensated”.
All 26 staff members will receive the boost, which will see the minimum rate rise from £10 to £13 per hour.
Ali Al-Mufti, managing director of Arcadia Care Homes, told Benefits Expert: “For far too long social care has patted itself on the back for just about paying above the national or real living wages. But the role of a care worker is far more skilled than this level of pay reflects.
“I’m delighted that we’ve managed to make a meaningful change for our workforce, and my hope is that message is heard loud and clear to all providers that elevating the pay of our workforce can absolutely be achieved if a small care home in South Wales can do it.”
“My hope is that our team now have greater financial security in their lives and feel more fairly compensated for the responsibility of their profession.”
As well as implementing the pay rises, Arcadia also gave staff cost-of-living bonuses last autumn. Employees have 28 days of annual leave and receive 12-month rotas in advance. They also have access to company-paid private counselling and can work a four-day week, with alternate weekends off.
In 2021, the company received real living wage employer accreditation, which it described as “just the first step in a long journey ahead to achieve the right pay for our skilled workforce”.
Al-Mufti added: “The sector must now work together to redefine pay rates for our workforce. Getting Living Wage accredited is a nice thing, but people should be paid based on the skill of the work they do, not what someone else thinks is enough to live on.”
