The UK Government has announced plans to introduce annual pay rises for social care workers in England, modeled on the National Health Service’s (NHS) approach to staff compensation. Starting in April 2028, a new negotiating body known as the Adult Social Care Negotiating Body will be established to set statutory pay rates and determine terms and conditions for care workers across both public and private sectors.

The move aims to address longstanding disparities between the wages of social care workers and their NHS counterparts. Currently, care workers in England earn on average around £12.60 per hour—equivalent to roughly £24,000 to £25,000 annually—significantly less than NHS staff performing comparable roles, who earn approximately £7,000 more each year. This wage gap has been linked to high staff turnover and shortages within the social care sector, which has faced decades of underfunding and service pressures.

Stephen Kinnock, England’s care minister, described the initiative as a step toward establishing a National Care Service that would operate alongside the NHS. He emphasized the vital role played by the country’s 1.5 million care workers and the necessity of providing them with better pay and conditions. The new negotiating body, to be operational by the end of 2026, will function similarly to “Agenda for Change,” the collective bargaining framework setting pay scales for most NHS staff. Its reach will extend to all care workers regardless of their employer, representing a first for statutory pay regulation across the sector.

The establishment of this body fulfills a Labour manifesto commitment and represents one of the final acts associated with Sir Keir Starmer’s tenure as party leader. It follows developments in other parts of the UK where similar frameworks have been introduced or are under consideration. Scotland implemented a social care bargaining body earlier this year, with ongoing discussions anticipated to lead to pay adjustments from 2027. The Scottish Trade Unions Congress had previously warned of the need to avoid Scotland being left behind if England introduced such a system first. Meanwhile, Wales is developing its own pay improvement framework for care workers.

While the reforms have been broadly welcomed by trade union leaders, including Paul Nowak of the Trades Union Congress, concerns remain about the potential cost implications. Increasing wages in the care sector could lead to higher fees in private care homes as providers pass on additional expenses to clients.

The Government is also under pressure to review and reform the funding model for social care, with an independent commission led by Dame Louise Casey expected to provide recommendations by 2028. Early findings from the commission have already prompted initiatives to improve safeguarding and dementia care, with further phase one proposals relating to the National Care Service anticipated later this year.

Since Starmer’s leadership began, the Government has increased the carer’s allowance for unpaid carers by £2,750, reflecting a broader focus on supporting caregiving roles across the country. The first negotiations under the new pay framework will begin in April 2027, with anticipated implementation of agreed pay rates by April 2028.