Blog: Tags > Care and Support
NOVEMBER 07, 2022
Unrealistic workloads force community support workers in Hounslow to hold strike vote
Workers employed by Hestia, a referral service which provides adult services in Hounslow in London, have begun a ballot for industrial action. A number of workers who are Unite members provide support for people ranging from mental health support, addiction, immigration ... Read more
OCTOBER 31, 2022
Axing one in 10 staff at Royal College of Occupational Therapists called ‘rank hypocrisy’
Workers given just 3 days to make life changing redundancy decision or accept new jobs on worse terms Unite represents many of the affected workers, who include counsellors, therapists and support staff, and have called on Royal College of Occupational Therapists ... Read more
OCTOBER 25, 2022
Unite shines a light on `shocking’ pay situation for Scotland’s care and support workforce
More than half of those working in care and support in Scotland (52 percent) run out of money before their next pay day, and one in five don’t use energy when at home because they can’t afford to according to ... Read more
JANUARY 12, 2022
High court rules that the VIP Lane for awarding PPE contracts was unlawful
The government's use of a "VIP lane" to award contracts for personal protective equipment (PPE) to two companies was unlawful, the High Court has ruled. Campaigners claimed the VIP lane was reserved for referrals from MPs, ministers and senior officials and ... Read more
DECEMBER 30, 2021
Out of Harm's Way - a new care system to protect young people at risk of exploitation
Former children’s commissioner for England Anne Longfield has warned that the current children’s social care system is “making it too easy for criminals to exploit our teenagers” in her new role as chair of the Commission on Young Lives. The report ... Read more
OCTOBER 13, 2021
100,000 posts in the social care sector unfilled
Unite leader says Britain’s social care crisis is another example of how low-pay Britain is abjectly failing to deliver services for the elderly, and all others dependent on such services The Skills for Care Report found that there are more than 100,000 ... Read more
SEPTEMBER 13, 2021
Unite calls for a ‘New deal’ for ‘Shared Lives’ foster carers looking after 14,000 vulnerable adults
Employers have been urged by Unite the union to give a ‘new deal’ to the UK’s 10,000 ‘Shared Lives’ foster carers who look after about 14,000 vulnerable adults, many with learning difficulties, in their homes. Unite said that many of the ... Read more
SEPTEMBER 07, 2021
Unite calls for ‘Wealth’ tax to be mobilised to pay for social care reform
The money to ‘fix’ the decades-old problem of social care requires a wider tax base to finance it rather than concentrating on National Insurance that hits the incomes of working people, Unite the union said today (Tuesday 7 September). Unite, which ... Read more
AUGUST 17, 2021
Unite protest against Edinburgh care home closures
Members of Unite protested on Tuesday alongside unions and Another Edinburgh is Possible against plans to close five care homes in the city. The protest was held outside Edinburgh city council chambers to coincide with a meeting to discuss the future ... Read more
AUGUST 05, 2021
Chair of Care Review sets out priorities
In a letter to the Secretary of State and Chief Secretary, Josh MacAlister, Chair of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care has set out three priorities for the upcoming Spending Review highlighting areas where investment is urgently needed. Outlining that ... Read more
AUGUST 02, 2021
Quarter of a million jobs at risk as employers asked to contribute more to furlough scheme
Unite has called on the government to extend and adapt the furlough scheme as new research shows hundreds of thousands of viable jobs could be at risk as the scheme winds down. The study from the New Economics Foundation (NEF) found ... Read more
JULY 20, 2021
Unite criticise Government decision to end free Covid test for employers
The government’s decision to no longer supply free lateral flow tests to employers has been labelled ‘barmy’ by Unite who warn that the decision will lead to an increase in exposure to Covid-19 in the workplace. The final day for employers who ... Read more
JUNE 18, 2021
Independent living is a right for all
Unite rep and support worker, Ali Treacher, believes our social care is not fit for purpose and systemic change must happen. In an article for Unite Extra, she writes... I have worked in ‘social care’, which it is a relatively new ... Read more
JUNE 17, 2021
London Mayor to be petitioned over keyworker list
A group of workers have set up an action group called Care and Support Workers Organise (CaSWO) and have launched a petition asking Sadiq Khan and members of The London Assembly to follow through on the promise to recognise the ... Read more
JUNE 16, 2021
Proposals for compulsory vaccination of care home staff condemned by Unite
‘Encouragement, not compulsion’ for health and social care staff when it comes to vaccination against Covid-19 is the best approach, Unite the union. Unite, which has 100,000 members in the health service, was commenting on reports that the government is to ... Read more
JUNE 02, 2021
With the end of lockdown restrictions in sight, Unite urges government to see the bigger picture as NHS care backlog grows As the UK today (June 2) marks its first day of zero Covid fatalities in ten months, an ostensible end ... Read more
APRIL 14, 2021
Compulsory vaccinations for care home staff must be thought through
Unite has urged the government to carefully examine the pitfalls, as well as the advantages, of requiring care home staff to be compulsorily vaccinated for Covid-19 following the launch of a five-week consultation with a decision to be made over ... Read more
MARCH 18, 2021
Management accused of targeting union reps at housing support charity St Mungo’s
Unite has called for a ‘bullying and anti-union culture’ amongst the management at London-based housing support charity St Mungo’s to end. With more than 500 members at St Mungo’s, Unite said that a ‘disproportionate’ 44 per cent of Unite stewards ... Read more
FEBRUARY 09, 2021
Children's Mental Health Week and the toll of Covid
Unite Live writes: This week is Children’s Mental Health Week – a campaign to raise awareness around the ever increasing decline in our children’s mental health. In her fourth annual report on the state of children’s mental health services in England, ... Read more
JANUARY 25, 2021
'Raising Care and Support Workers'
A new campaign is being launched which will bring together Unite members and reps working within care and support services. An initial discussion was held back in December which started planning how to achieve improved pay and conditions for these essential ... Read more
DECEMBER 11, 2020
More than half the country wants the £20-a-week boost to Universal Credit made permanent
More than half the country wants chancellor Rishi Sunak to continue permanently with the £20-a-week uplift in Universal Credit (UC) due to end in April 2021, according to a survey carried out by Survation for Unite the union, as millions ... Read more
JULY 01, 2020
We need to care for our carers
Unite has welcomed the Labour Party’s call for fast-tracked mental health support for all people working in the NHS and social care. The party has developed a mental health support package for these workers, which would also include contracted workers such porters ... Read more
APRIL 06, 2020
#WhateverItTakes for Social Care
In our blog on 1st April, we highlighted the vital need for social care workers to be provided with adequate personal protection equipment (PPE) to enable them to work safely providing the much needed care in the community. The call for ... Read more
FEBRUARY 27, 2020
Unite demands a joined-up government response to eradicate rough sleeping
The ‘disgraceful’ number of rough sleepers across the country demands a joined-up government response which has been lacking over a decade of Tory rule which has seen a ‘revolving door’ of housing ministers hinder plans to eradicate rough sleeping. Unite said that the lack ... Read more
FEBRUARY 12, 2020
Unite ballots members at Dundee Independent Advocacy Support
Unite the union has today (12 February) confirmed that it will open a week long industrial action ballot involving its membership at the Dundee Independent Advocacy Support (DIAS). Staff are being asked to vote on action in a dispute over an ... Read more
JANUARY 21, 2020
Staff at St Mungos urged to vote YES to defend jobs, skills and quality services
Unite believes that its members deserve to be treated fairly and with respect and are urging members to vote for strike action as it reballots workers at St Mungos. The decision to reballot members has been taken as St Mungos push ahead with changes ... Read more
SEPTEMBER 23, 2019
Bombshell report launched today laying bare the misery of Universal Credit
A ‘bombshell’ report and survey of nearly 1,200 Universal Credit claimants by the community section of Unite lays bare the misery of the scheme’s failed introduction with evidence of people becoming suicidal, going without food, being forced into debt and unable to ... Read more
MAY 29, 2019
Epidemic of mental health issues and stress for workers in our Sector
A confidential survey of members working within the Community, Youth and Not for Profit Sector has revealed an epidemic of stress related illness and massive mental health issues with the survey finding that 80% of respondents had experienced workplace stress ... Read more