What is changing?
The Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) for adult social care was part of the government’s Plan to Make Work Pay. The Act paves the way for establishing an Adult Social Care (ASC) Negotiating Body in England (there will be separate bodies for Scotland and Wales).
The ASC Negotiating Body will bring together employers, trade unions and representative organisations to collectively negotiate the terms of the FPA, such as minimum standards for pay and working conditions. Backed by a £500 million investment, the FPA aims to drive improvements in workforce fairness and stability within the sector.
When is this changing?
The ASC Negotiating Body is expected to be established in autumn 2027.
The first FPA is expected to be in place in April 2028.
How can I prepare?
- Audit Current Pay and Conditions
- Compare existing wages, hours, and benefits against anticipated benchmarks.
- Identify gaps in compliance and areas that will needing improvement.
- Budget
- Providers should assess how wage increases and improved conditions will affect their finances and plan accordingly.
- Review Contracts and Policies
- Contracts will ultimately need to reflect the new standards.
- Train HR teams so they are able to:
- Implement changes fairly and consistently.
- Engage Legal and HR teams
- Stay informed on developments relating to the ERA