Borough Care, a leading provider of residential care services for older people in Staffordshire, has this week celebrated its third birthday as a Real Living Wage Employer.
In April 2021, it became the first large residential care provider in the UK to be accredited by the Real Living Wage Foundation—a decision made in direct response to staff feedback and recognition of the continued dedication shown by its team members.
The care sector is widely known to be underpaid and undervalued, with the pandemic further highlighting the industry’s importance in society. Borough Care’s accreditation was a pioneering move that inspired many other care providers to follow in its footsteps and become Real Living Wage Employers.
To mark the occasion, Shoemaker Place in Stone, along with the provider’s other 11 care homes, celebrated with ‘birthday cakes’ for day teams and a surprise pizza delivery for its night teams.
Emily Hawthorn, Activity and Lifestyle Facilitator at Shoemaker Place said,
‘Working for an employer that pays the Real Living Wage makes me feel valued and more motivated in my job. It helps towards the cost of everything.
I have a young child and I can afford to send her to extracurricular activities – something I wouldn’t be able to do if it wasn’t for the Real Living Wage. This makes her very happy!”
The not-for-profit organisation recently announced plans to uphold its commitment to the Real Living Wage when the new rate came into effect on April 1st. With an increase of 10% to £12.00 per hour, the new rate is significantly more than the industry average hourly wage for care workers in England (currently £9.80 per hour.)
Borough Care’s CEO, Dr Mark Ward said,
“Ensuring that our colleagues receive a wage that reflects the true cost of living is integral to our values as an organisation.
We believe that paying the Real Living Wage is not only the right thing to do ethically but also makes good business sense.
We hope it promotes loyalty, motivation, and a sense of pride among our teams, ultimately contributing to the exceptional care we provide to our residents. “
The luxury care home in Stone is currently recruiting. To find out more visit https://www.boroughcare.org.uk/careers-hub/
Borough Care has had plenty to celebrate recently. The organisation was, for the second year in a row, named one of the Top 20 Midsize Care Home Groups in the UK by Carehome.co.uk based on reviews from residents and their loved ones. Shoemaker Place is rated an impressive 9.9/10.
