The Care Act 2014 requires us to make sure there is a sustainable market to meet the Adult Social Care needs of our residents. This includes paying fees that allow providers to keep an effective workforce and comply with the National Living Wage.
We regularly engage with providers through forums, contract management meetings, quality assurance activities, and other events. Every year, we meet with providers to review and discuss the proposed fees for the upcoming financial year.
Our service provider fees
|
Care Setting |
Fee 2024/25 |
Fee 2025/26 |
Increase in £s |
Percentage increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Residential care and nursing - Band 1 |
£711 per week |
£721 per week |
£10 per week |
1.41 per cent |
|
Residential care and nursing - Band 2 |
£711 per week |
£721 per week |
£10 per week |
1.41 per cent |
|
Residential care and nursing - Band 3 |
£773 per week |
£788 per week |
£15 per week |
1.94 per cent |
|
Residential care and nursing - Standard Respite |
£711 per week |
£712 per week |
£10 per week |
1.41 per cent |
|
Residential care and nursing - Nursing |
£773 per week |
£823 per week |
£50 per week |
6.47 per cent |
|
Care at Home |
£22.62 per hour |
£24.05 per hour |
£1.43 per hour |
6.32 per cent |
|
Care at Home - Outreach |
£22.62 per hour |
£22.62 per hour |
No change |
No change |
|
Supported Living |
£21.20 per hour |
£22.55 per hour |
£1.35 per hour |
6.32 per cent |
|
Supported Living -complex cases rate |
£22.26 per hour |
£23.68 per hour |
£1.42 per hour |
6.32 per cent |
|
Extra Care |
£19.75 per hour |
£21.01 per hour |
£1.26 per hour |
6.32 per cent |
Paying service providers a Real Living Wage
In December 2022, we committed to paying commissioned providers a sufficient rate to enable care workers to be paid at least the Real Living Wage. Our new fee rates for 2025/26 continue this commitment with all care workers being paid at least £12.60 per hour.
In November 2023, 9 out of 10 Greater Manchester councils either enforced or encouraged providers to pay the Real Living Wage. This was included in their provider fees.
The North West Association of Directors of Adults Services surveyed councils in the North West of England to understand their stance on paying care providers a Real Living Wage. Out of 22 Councils that responded, we proudly reported that we were the only council in the area that made sure care workers across all market segments were paid the Real Living Wage.
Benefits of the Real Living Wage
Paying the Real Living Wage helps providers to:
- Recruit and retain staff in a competitive market.
- Compete with other sectors, such as supermarkets, retail, and hospitality, that often pay similar or higher wages for less demanding jobs.
Supporting providers to recruit and retain good quality care staff is essential. It's not just about paying frontline care workers a Real Living Wage, but also making sure management pay reflects the Real Living Wage and increases proportionately according to their roles and responsibilities.