The UK Government has announced a landmark move to establish a Fair Pay Agreement specifically designed to support workers within the adult social care sector. For years, the sector has operated in the shadow of the NHS—underfunded, undervalued, and fragmented. But this announcement offers a glimmer of hope for long-awaited reform.
What Is the Fair Pay Agreement?
The proposed Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) will set minimum pay standards and other terms and conditions for adult social care workers. The policy will introduce collective bargaining between employers and worker representatives, and grant new rights to trade unions operating within workplaces.
The foundation of the FPA will be laid by the forthcoming Employment Rights Bill, with additional details to be fleshed out through secondary legislation.
Core Elements Under Review
A working group within the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) is already tackling key issues, including:
🛠 Scope of the FPA
- Pay, training, progression, and terms and conditions
- Coverage expected to include all sector workers—even those employed by private providers
- Inclusion of Personal Assistants (PAs) employed directly by individual service users
🗣 Establishing a Negotiating Body
- Equal representation from employee and employer sides
⚖️ Dispute Resolution
- A structured mechanism for resolving breakdowns in negotiations
🔍 Compliance and Enforcement
- Measures for monitoring employer adherence and empowering workers to raise concerns
🏛 Fair Work Agency
- Will be created through the Employment Rights Bill to enforce FPA pay standards
🔄 Integration with Broader Policy Reviews
- Ongoing coordination with the Casey Review to ensure systemic cohesion
Timeline: What Happens Next?
The roadmap for implementation is ambitious and stretches across the next few years:
| Milestone | Estimated Timeline |
| Royal Assent for Employment Rights Bill | Autumn 2025 |
| Public Consultation by DHSC | Late 2025 – Early 2026 |
| Formation of Negotiating Body | Likely in 2027 |
| Recommendations Published | Expected in 2028/29 |
The Elephant in the Room: Funding
While the Spending Review has allocated an extra £4 billion for the Local Authority settlement in 2028/29, serious questions remain:
- Will this funding be sufficient?
- Given that DHSC doesn’t oversee Local Authority budgets, what’s the long-term strategy?
As the sector anticipates real change, many hope the FPA marks the beginning of a larger movement toward professionalising adult social care and providing the fair compensation its workforce deserves.
Final Thoughts
This initiative is not just about numbers—it’s about recognition. For too long, adult social care has been the neglected sibling of healthcare. The Fair Pay Agreement might just be the first real step towards giving care workers their due dignity and value.
