‘Workforce has vital role’

A DEPARTMENT of Health and Social Care spokesman said average salaries had risen, despite scores of vacancies.

He said: “The social care workforce is vital and we know they work tirelessly to support the most vulnerable people in our society. On average, hourly pay rates are higher than the national minimum wage and the average salary has risen by nine per cent since 2015.

“We want to promote adult social care as a career of choice and are launching a national recruitment campaign in the new year to raise the image and profile of the sector, while our upcoming green paper will look at how we can better attract and retain a valued workforce.”