This is in recognition of the council’s work in improving the quality of care provided to the borough’s 1,700 residents who receive care at home from care companies contracted to the council.
The Ethical Care Charter calls for local councils to promote good terms and conditions of work for care staff, good wages and working conditions, and improvements, which the council have incorporated, in the latest contract to the care companies.
John Cafferty, UNISON Interim Regional Secretary says: “The Charter is a key component in UNISON’s Save Care Now campaign, which was developed to create standards for safety, quality and dignity of care by ensuring good employment conditions and a stable workforce through sustainable pay, conditions and training.
“In implementing the provisions of the Charter in its procurement strategy for Elderly Care Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council is sending out a clear message that quality services depend on quality pay and conditions for workers and on properly funded client focussed services.
“UNISON Northern Region welcomes their commitment to improving standards in care and to ensuring that hard working staff get the investment they deserve.”
Councillor David Walsh, the Cabinet Member for Adult Services at Redcar & Cleveland Council said: “One of the 100 day challenges the new council administration was pledged to make last year was to gain charter status. To this end, we have worked in partnership with the care companies who carry out our home care work to ensure that they comply with best practice in terms of wages and working conditions, as well as performing a top class service for those elderly or vulnerable people who require care and attention to help their quality of life.
“The new contract that has been agreed with by the local care industry and provides for an annual uplift in recognition of the new National Living Wage, provide for the payment for staff in between home calls and is so structured that all staff regardless of age will be paid at least the National Living Wage.
“For its part, the council has tried to reduce excessive bureaucracy in its day to day to day dealings with care companies and has pledged to co-operate and collaborate in areas like the provision or training and in joint procurement of goods and services.
“We are pleased that this charter has been awarded and see it as a mark of good practice involving the whole care community – the council, the staff undertaking the day in, day out work, Trade Unions like UNISON and the care companies.”