Ideal Carehomes rewards frontline staff with second pay rise in six months, a total investment of £3m - Ideal Carehomes

Residential and dementia care provider, Ideal Carehomes, has announced a second pay increase for all hourly paid staff, giving them a 9% pay increase in the last six months alone, a total investment of £3million.

Back in October, staff were awarded a 5% increase as a thank you for their continued dedication. Now, from 28thMarch, staff at Ideal Carehomes will receive an additional 4% increase, which takes all salaries significantly above the current real living wage.

All frontline care staff will benefit from the rise and Ideal Carehomes has put the increase in place in recognition of the high quality of care being delivered to its residents whilst the challenges of the pandemic have continued in to 2022.

Managing Director, Stacey Linn, said, “The commitment from the whole Ideal Carehomes team throughout the pandemic has been incredible and inspiring. Our staff have maintained the quality of care delivered to our residents throughout, making sure that their daily lives are full of fun, love and care and reinforcing to us that we employ the best staff in the sector.

“The pandemic has shown the public that people working in care homes up and down the country are highly skilled and genuinely caring, and this is something we have always been passionate about.  For far too long, the social care sector has been deemed ‘unskilled’ and ‘entry level’ and I am proud that as an organisation, we are leading the way on ensuring the remuneration of these amazing individuals is fitting to their important roles.”

Stacey Linn, continued: “We are passionate about investing in our people, providing them with a rewarding and enjoyable career in care. Our Care Assistants will now start on a minimum of £21,800pa and through the Ideal Academy can be earning over £30,000pa within two or three years. We have development pathways in place to guide and progress our care teams, and we have a very strong focus on staff wellbeing, be that mental or physical, so that we are able to fully support every single employee within each and every care home.”

Ideal Carehomes employ over 1,400 people across 30 care homes throughout Yorkshire, the North West and the Midlands. The company opened eight brand new facilities throughout the pandemic with further homes opening in 2022. All homes are purpose built and well-appointed and care staff are offered paid breaks and consistent shift patterns along with many other benefits.