Ed Miliband will today say the next Labour government will work with local authorities and care providers to raise standards in the industry and end time-limited 15-minute visits.

He will welcome the publication of the independent report by Baroness Denise Kingsmill into the impact of exploitative practices on the care of elderly and vulnerable people.

The report reveals that elderly people in nearly two-thirds of areas are being given visits lasting just 15 minutes with many care workers not paid if they choose to stay longer.

This has reduced the quality of care for millions of elderly, vulnerable and disabled people who need extra help preparing meals, bathing, and taking medication if they are to continue to live at home with dignity, as well as undermining the emotional and domestic support needed for conditions like dementia.

It is also driving the exploitation of England’s 1.8 million care workers. The report shows:

Between 150,000 and 220,000 care workers are paid less than the National Minimum Wage, often due to the failure to pay workers for time travelled between home care visits;

An estimated 307,000 care workers are on zero-hours contracts;
41 per cent of care workers do not receive specialised training to help deal with specific medical needs, such as dementia and stroke-related conditions, while nearly a third receive no regular training.

The report recommends ending time-limited 15 minute care.

One of the central recommendations is that a new Care Charter should be developed by the Care Quality Commission to raise standards, end these time-limited visits, and introduce an inspection regime for the commissioning of care.

The report findings show that improvements could be made through re-allocating existing resources, as well as improving workforce planning and commissioning practices. Labour councils such as Southwark and Islington have already introduced a Care Charter with no additional funding from central government which commit them to tackling exploitative working practices and ending the use of 15 minute slots.

The review also calls for:

The introduction of a Licence to Practice for care managers to improve management standards and training for new workers.

An extension in the remit of the CQC to cover the exploitation of care workers that impacts on those they care for. Under this new remit, the CQC would have a duty to refer to HMRC cases where it suspects there has been a breach of minimum wage laws.

The publication of the report comes as it was revealed that up to half of care providers may not be paying staff the national minimum wage. A freedom of information response from HMRC to Liz Kendall, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Care and Older People, shows that half of all providers inspected by HMRC were failing in some way to pay the NMW, with over £1 million owed to workers.

Ed Miliband said:

“Nine months ago, I asked Denise Kingsmill to lead an independent review to better understand and tackle exploitation in the care sector.

"Her report today shows that the army of care workers, who carry out some of the most important work anyone can do looking after parents, grandparents and the most vulnerable in our society, are often exploited with real consequences for those they care for.

"I have already set out detailed policy to strengthen the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage and end exploitation of zero hors contracts.

"I know that councils are under enormous pressure from reductions in central government funding But I am also determined that a Labour government will call time on clock-watch care. We will work with councils and care providers to end this practice.”

Liz Kendall said:

“Care workers do an incredibly important job, looking after our loved ones when they are at their most vulnerable. Yet thousands are not even paid the minimum wage, let alone a living wage.

"The news that half of all providers inspected by HMRC have failed to pay the minimum wage is shocking. Over a million pounds is now owed to care workers – yet neither HMRC nor the Government will tell us which companies are responsible or how many people have been affected.

"It is totally unacceptable that companies are failing to meet their legal duties. The Government must immediately name the companies concerned, HMRC must take action in each case where it finds non-compliance, and dedicated care workers must get what they are owed.”

Baroness Kingsmill said:

“Care for elderly and disabled people is a major issue for the mid-21st Century. We are likely to live longer and a large number of is will require care in our final years. Improving conditions for care workers and care recipients is a journey: we need to act now, but we need long term change and to truly value care as essential to the well-being of some of the most vulnerable people in society.”

The Kingsmill Review: Taking Care please is here:

http://www.yourbritain.org.uk/uploads/editor/files/The_Kingsmill_Review_-_Taking_Care_-_Final_2.pdf