Evaluation of the fair pay agreement and impact of employment rights in adult social-care
Adult social care provides essential support to older and disabled people, but the sector faces longstanding problems including low pay, insecure work, staff shortages and high turnover.
This four-year study will evaluate the impact of the Government’s employment rights reforms and Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care in England. It will examine whether the reforms improve pay, job security, working conditions, workforce wellbeing, recruitment and retention.
Researchers will establish a picture of employment conditions before implementation, analyse existing workforce data, survey care workers and providers, and undertake case studies in three local areas.
The study will explore how the effects vary between workers, employers and places, while identifying implementation barriers, inequalities and unintended consequences. Care workers, unpaid carers and people who draw on care and support will help shape each stage of the research.
Findings will provide timely evidence for government, local authorities, care providers, trade unions, workers and people using adult social care services.
Project Team:
Philip Taylor - Principal Investigator
Project Duration:
April 2026 - March 2030
Project Funder:
