Page 35 - Unfair To Care 2024 - Who Cares Wins

SIN 2. INCOME INSECURITY FOR FRONTLINE CARE AND SUPPORT WORKERS
TWO THIRDS OF NURSES, HEALTH, AND SOCIAL CARE WORKERS SAID THEY ARE HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN FOOD AND FUEL TO COMBAT RISING ENERGY BILLS.
ONE IN FIVE RESIDENTIAL CARE WORKERS IN THE UK WERE LIVING IN POVERTY, COMPARED TO ONE IN EIGHT OF ALL WORKERS.
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‘1 in 5 residential care workers in the UK living in poverty before cost-of-living crisis’, The Health Foundation, October 2022 MReisneimarucmh rwepaogreterdatiensHform2e0c2a4r,eHInMsigGhotv,eFrenbmrueanrty, N20o2ve3mber 2023
An analysis by the Health Foundation in October 202235 shows that staff working in care homes are far more likely to live in poverty and deprivation than the average UK worker.
Even before the cost-of-living crisis hit, one in five residential care workers in the UK were living in poverty, compared to one in eight of all workers. Many relied on state support to make up for low income from employment – 20% of the residential care workforce drew on universal credit and legacy benefits from 2017 to 2020, compared to 10% of all workers.
13% of residential care workers’ children lived in material deprivation, where families are unable to provide children with essentials like fresh fruit and vegetables or a warm winter coat. This compared to 5% of children in all working families.
A 2022 survey of over 1,000 nurses, health, and social care workers reported in Home Care Insight36 found that nearly one in five (14%) nurses have started using food banks (it must be noted that nursing is a significantly higher paid role than the frontline care and support worker). A further third (30%) also know colleagues who have. Two thirds (63%) of nurses and healthcare workers are saying they are having to choose between food and fuel to combat rising energy bills.
The Health Foundation report also found that around one in ten residential care workers experienced food insecurity, living without reliable access to enough healthy food.
SECTION 6: THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
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