Pay call for care home workers
A Stirling councillor is calling for agency staff working in care homes to receive the same bonus as permanent staff.
Bannockburn ward independent councillor Maureen Bennison has written to the Scottish Government to express her concern that the agency workers will not be eligible for a £500 taxable bonus to be paid to care home staff across Scotland.
She took up the cause after the issue was raised by one of her constituents, himself an agency worker.
“I was contacted by my constituent Joseph Grattan, who lives in Bannockburn,”said Councillor Bennison.“He advised me that nurses and care staff employed by agencies are not eligible for the £500 taxable bonus announced recently by the Scottish Government.”
Joseph, she added, is a registered nurse and experienced in the care of older people, specialising in dementia, Alzheimer’s and similar cognitive disorders, and is employed by an agency who regularly supply staff to care homes.
“He and his colleagues have worked throughout the pandemic,”said the councillor. “They are extremely disappointed to find nurses and carers employed by agencies are not eligible for the taxable £500 payment other care home staff are entitled to.
“I have asked the Scottish Government to confirm nurses and care workers, employed by agencies - risking their safety during this pandemic - will be eligible for this payment to reflect public gratitude for the essential services they have provided.
“The Scottish Government are well aware of the reliance on agency nursing staff and carers to provide the specialist medical care and support for our older people who reside in care homes.
“Like all other care staff, agency nurses and care staff have put themselves and their families at risk of catching coronavirus to ensure the older people they care for get the specialist medical care and support they need and deserve.
“My constituent feels that a situation where the efforts of all other care staff are recognised through this payment but not those of agency staff who are providing the same care – and taking the same health risks in doing so – would undermine morale among those dedicated agency staff. I find myself in agreement with this view having worked in this sector immediately before the pandemic myself.
“I sincerely hope the Scottish Government will reconsider this decision and ensure nurses and carers employed by agencies receive the payment which they have worked for and deserve.”