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Invaluable nationwide report

Executive summary

This report provides a national picture of the state of Shared Lives carer fees and contributions across the UK. It is the product of research conducted for the Invaluable project, Shared Lives Plus’ campaign for fairer and more equitable remuneration for Shared Lives carers.

We knew from talking to our members that Shared Lives fees varied drastically across the country, and that many carers were feeling the financial strain. As their membership organisation, we strive to achieve the best possible terms and conditions for our carers. To campaign effectively, we needed to learn in detail about how fees varied, both in amounts and in structure across all the UK’s regions.

Thanks to our research, we now have a comprehensive and detailed understanding of the fee and contribution practices in each of those regions.

This report incorporates that regional data to give an accurate national overview of Shared Lives carer fees and contributions.

It compares this with pay information from the wider social care sector and economy to properly situate carer fees within the context of wider pay and conditions in the United Kingdom.

The key findings are concerning:

    • Fee levels, structure and breakdown of fees, and types of commissioning organisation vary considerably across the UK.
      This is due to the market model of social care provision, and the organic development of Shared Lives services over time.
    • On average, Shared Lives carer fees are below the sector average, and even national minimum wage.
      Average care and support fees for Shared Lives carers supporting single people in live-in arrangements on the lowest banding, are below the average junior care worker salary and the national minimum wage.
    • Shared Lives carers lose money in comparison to private renters.
      Shared Lives carers supporting people in live-in arrangements have a spare room in the property they occupy. In Shared Lives they earn on average little over half of what they would if they rented the room out privately.
    • More than a quarter of Shared Lives carers are at risk of leaving the sector due to financial pressures.
      31% of carers surveyed said that they had considered leaving Shared Lives altogether because of the cost of living.

Read and download the full report.

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