Care and support workers should be included in key worker lists

Care and support workers make a real difference to people’s lives. Despite their efforts throughout the coronavirus crisis, they are currently excluded from London’s key worker lists that would give them preferential access to affordable homes.

In London, the average wage for care and support workers in the independent sector is £1,483 per month. With the median monthly rent most recently estimated at £1,475 per month, huge numbers of workers are struggling to get by.

The London Assembly has today called on the Mayor to include care and support workers in the Greater London Authority’s ‘core’ definition of key workers.

Sakina Sheikh AM, who proposed the motion, said: “London’s care and support workers have always gone above and beyond to look after the most vulnerable in our communities and have continued to work in the face of huge pressures during the pandemic.

“It simply isn’t right that they are being left to struggle with the costs of living despite playing the absolutely crucial role in our society.

“With rents, energy and food prices all on the increase, the recent removal of the Universal Credit uplift will hit many in the sector particularly hard. This is why they need a proper pay rise.

“It was positive to see the Mayor announce a consultation on giving priority access to new affordable housing in London to key workers - care and support workers must be included in this."

The full text of the motion is:

The Assembly notes the tremendous effort made by care and support workers across the city on a daily basis, particularly since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, care and support workers are currently excluded from the key worker lists that would give them preferential access to genuinely affordable housing through housing association key worker schemes.

In London, the average wage for care and support workers in the independent sector is £1,483 per month while the median monthly rent was most recently estimated at £1,475 per month. Extortionate housing costs mean despite working incredibly hard, huge numbers of carers can barely get by.

This Assembly also notes that the overwhelming majority of London’s 220,000 care and support workers will be detrimentally affected by the reduction in Universal Credit of £20 per week.

The Assembly calls on the Mayor for care and support workers to be included in the Greater London Authority’s ‘core’ definition of key workers. This is so they be considered for key worker schemes and be given a chance of securing genuinely affordable housing.