Adult Social Care Fair Pay Agreement announcement: CCN response

This week the government announced the establishment of its Adult Social Care Negotiating Body, which will negotiate pay and conditions for adult social care workers.

The Department for Health and Social Care also announced the conclusion of its consultation on the negotiation process. The County Councils Network had called for a formal role for local government within the process, which has been accepted by government.

Cllr Glen Sanderson, Adult Social Care Spokesperson for the County Councils Network, said:

“We are pleased to see the government has recognised our call for councils to have a formal role in the Fair Pay Agreement process. They are the largest commissioners of adult social care in England, with a statutory duty to shape the care market. The County Councils Network (CCN) argued that it is essential local government expertise is in the room during negotiations, as councils will be implementing the agreement that is ultimately negotiated.

“With councils exposed to the implementation pressures –including financial – resulting from this policy, having a seat at the table as non-voting members will mean our expertise about the policy’s impact on local areas will be heard. We hope the process can be strengthened even further through assurance of MHCLG involvement. We remain optimistic it’s possible to get this policy right for everyone and we look forward to engaging with the Negotiating Body.

“Alongside this, county, rural and coastal areas have unique populations, geographies, workforces, care markets, and infrastructure. The CCN will continue working with the government to ensure the nuances of commissioning, assuring, and delivering adult social care in our members’ areas are recognised and accounted for.”

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