Social care providers could have to update employment contracts, policies and underlying payroll systems to comply with the new pay deal envisaged for the adult social care sector in England, experts have said.
Lucy Townley and Anthony Hollands of Pinsent Masons were commenting after the UK government opened a new consultation in which it outlined how it intends to use powers provided for in the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) to establish the basis on which a ‘fair pay agreement’ for the sector can be negotiated.
The ERB, which is in the late stages of the parliamentary process but is not yet law, provides the government with powers to establish an ‘Adult Social Care Negotiating Body’ for England and write rules in relation to its remit and on how it should operate. Similar bodies are to be established in Scotland and Wales by the devolved governments in operation in those countries.
It is envisaged that these negotiating bodies will operate independently of government but as public bodies, with representation from both trade unions active in the adult social care (ASC) sector and employers in the market.
The negotiating bodies will work to establish separate ‘fair pay agreements’ for England, Scotland and Wales, which are expected to set minimum standards for pay and terms and conditions but could also cover other employment matters such as training and career progression. The scope of each agreement would be for the negotiating...
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