Media and case studies

He thoroughly enjoys every day and says “I enjoy my role because my colleagues are always striving to help and always open to other people’s views to improve our work. This means we’re able to do our best to support people with learning disabilities and autism to enjoy their life how they want to.”

Ben strongly supports Dimensions’ petition to align support worker pay to NHS Band 3 to prevent people being forced out of this rewarding career because of the low salary and cost-of-living concerns.

“I personally believe that support workers deserve parity of pay with the NHS. We all work tirelessly to make sure the people we support are safe and to provide them with the care they need to help achieve their goals, but we’re often treated as an afterthought by policymakers. I love my job and would encourage others to sign up, but I’m aware that the low pay is acting as a barrier and needs to be addressed.”

But she knows that many people won’t be able to enjoy the rewards of social care careers, because they simply can’t afford to live on the salary. Susan hopes that sharing her experiences will inspire others and ignite change. She recognises that not only would increased pay signal the value of social care, but also attract talented individuals to join the field, ultimately benefiting the people that rely on their support.

“I hold a firm belief that social care workers should be paid in line with the NHS Pay Band 3. Not only do our tireless efforts and unwavering commitment warrant pay parity, but it would elevate the status of social care, allowing us to support the NHS more effectively and ensuring that the remarkable work we do continues to flourish.”

As a Lead Support Worker, Jorden’s day-to-day responsibilities include medication distribution, personal care, mealtime assistance, and supporting people to go out and about in the community, along with a host of other things – no day is ever the same!

She loves working with those she supports to “help them live as independently possible, helping them to do and enjoy the activities we all love.” She says, “the people you support make it all worthwhile.”

Throughout her career in social care, she has experienced belittling labels such as ‘glorified bum wiper’ and feels that people often lack an understanding of the value of support workers. She says “we know the people we support, we are a big part of their lives, we understand their needs, both medical and emotional.”

With regards to pay, Jorden feels that there is limited recognition for how much training and work support workers do. It’s a rewarding job and one that she does because she loves it, but to read that you can earn more in the NHS, retail and hospitality is disheartening.