Home - Unfair To Care

Since 2021, Unfair To Care has highlighted the true value of frontline support workers and the economic impact of investing in social care.

Community Integrated Care’s latest report, ‘The Caring Economy – Unfair To Care 2025’, reveals a persistent £7,120 annual pay gap between social care support workers and their NHS equivalents – a disparity that fuels workforce instability, detriments the NHS, and impacts the wider economy.

Social care is not just a cost; it’s an investment. A well-paid, motivated workforce can strengthen the NHS, boost economic growth, and ensure high-quality support for those who need it most. Yet, despite growing recognition of social care’s vital role, urgent action is still needed. Our report estimates that every 50p increase in the hourly pay of England’s 1.29 million frontline support workers would cost the government no more than £723 million – that’s just 2.3% of the total annual adult social care budget – but could deliver transformational change.

When we invest in social care, we invest in the future of our society, our economy and our NHS. This report provides essential data to inform the national conversation on the change that needs to happen. Explore the findings and join us in calling for a fairer future for social care.

6 Key Facts From The Report

30.3%

Pay difference between Support Workers and their NHS counterparts
£7,120

The equivalent cash uplift needed to achieve pay parity
1.29 million

The number of direct care workers in England
112,000

Vacant frontline roles in social care with a turnover rate of 26.5%
£723m

The estimated annual net cost to government of increasing their hourly pay by 50p
2.3%

A 50p increase is just 2.3% of England’s £32 billion annual adult social care budget

Read Unfair to Care 2025

Unfair To Care 2025 re-examines key pay benchmarking data for care workers and explores how greater investment in social care will drive economic growth and strengthen the NHS.

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Read our previous reports

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Ways you can support

1. Email your MP

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I am writing to you as a concerned constituent regarding the ongoing injustice of low pay in the social care sector. The latest report from Community Integrated Care, ‘A Caring Economy – Unfair To Care 2025’, exposes a large and persistent pay gap between social care workers and their NHS counterparts. This pay disparity is not only unfair but is also detrimental to the stability of the care sector, the NHS, and the wider economy. As outlined in the report, social care support workers are currently paid 30.3% less than their direct NHS Band 3 equivalents - a difference of £7,120 per year. Given the crucial and skilled nature of their work, it is unacceptable that they remain among the UK’s lowest-paid professionals. With 112,000 vacant frontline social care roles and a turnover rate of 26.5%, this workforce crisis is reaching unsustainable levels. The consequences of these vacancies are felt across society - causing delays in care provision, increasing pressures on the NHS, and restricting economic growth. The Government has acknowledged the need for a Fair Pay Agreement for care workers, but the proposed implementation in 2027, at the earliest, is simply too late. The sector needs urgent intervention to prevent further damage and achieve all the benefits fair pay brings. Community Integrated Care’s report estimates that an interim pay uplift of just 50p per hour would cost only £723 million annually - just 2.3% of the total £32 billion spent on adult social care and a fraction of the £25.7 billion additional funding allocated to the NHS in the 2024 Autumn Budget. This affordable investment would have a transformative effect, reducing staff turnover, improving retention, and strengthening the overall health and social care system. Investing in fair pay is not just a cost but an economic opportunity, creating a ‘Social Care Triple Win’: • Better lives for people who deliver and draw on social care. • Cost-effective and sustainable care and health services. • Economic growth and productivity.   I urge you to read the full ‘A Caring Economy – Unfair To Care 2025’ report at www.unfairtocare.co.uk. As my elected representative, I ask you to raise awareness of this issue, advocate for immediate action on fair pay, and push for an interim uplift in wages to support this critical workforce. Low pay in social care is a false economy - one that compromises quality of care, places additional burdens on the NHS, and hinders economic growth. I would like to know: what action will you take to address this crisis? I look forward to your response.

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2. Share campaign assets on Social Media

We’ve created some graphics for you to share on your social media feeds to show your friends and followers that you are supporting frontline social care workers to get the pay they deserve.

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3. Download our media pack

For all media enquiries relating to the campaign please email unfairtocare@c-i-c.co.uk

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About Community Integrated Care

Community Integrated Care is one of Britain’s biggest and most successful social care charities. We support thousands of people across England and Scotland who have care and support needs, such as learning disabilities, mental health concerns, autism, dementia and complex care needs, to lead The Best Life Possible. We are proud to have been recognised for our impact and innovation as the Charity Times ‘Charity of the Year’, and at sector honours such as the Skills for Care Accolades, National Care Awards and Great British Care Awards.

We believe that social care is the backbone of society. It is underfunded, under-appreciated and needs progressive reform to ensure fair pay for colleagues and fair care for all. That’s why our national strategy, ‘We Dare’, makes an absolute commitment to championing the sector – our colleagues, communities and the people we support. We are determined to fight for this cause with partners across the sector and society to ensure that it can be fair to care.

6 Key Facts From The Report

30.3%

£7,120

1.29 million

112,000

£723m

2.3%