MP Charlotte Nichols visits Samantha

Sam, who we support to live independently in Warrington invited her MP, Charlotte Nichols to visit her at home.

Charlotte started off by explaining the difference between local and national government and the different responsibilities they have.

Sam was keen to ask her why support workers are paid less than nurses.

Sam said: “My support workers are counsellors, cleaners, medication administrators, cooks, wellbeing advisers and `wear many hats’; I don’t understand why they don’t get paid more.

Charlotte explained that the NHS has a grading system based on the skills and experience of staff which doesn’t exist in social care.

Charlotte said:

“It was great to meet Sam and her support workers, to discuss how we can reform social care in England to give those who need care and support and those who provide it, the best quality support. Speaking to Sam, it was clear how her support makes a difference to her life – supporting her independence, enabling her to pursue her interests and hobbies, looking out for her emotional wellbeing, and providing continuity, safety and stability. Her support workers love their jobs but pointed out that it’s getting increasingly difficult to give the quality-of-care Sam has to everyone who needs it due to sustained cost pressures and not enough people coming into the sector. This is something I hope we can address in Parliament”.

As the MP for Warrington North, Charlotte explained how Warrington College has created a faculty dedicated to social care with the aim of bringing key skills to a framework like the one that exists in the NHS.

Charlotte was keen to understand how Sam was supported. Sam told her about how she used to spend time a lot of time at home, but her support worker, Martina O’Brien helped her to develop her interests. She discovered an art class called `Creative Adventures’ and supported Sam to attend. Since then, she has also joined a brass band and a choir. As a result, Sam has been in a number of performances, and it’s expanded her horizons and her confidence has grown.

Sam said: “Without my support workers, I’d never have done that.”

Sam has had her hours of support extended and she’s looking for a job. She has experience of using a till at a charity shop where she volunteers. Warrington Disability Partnership is providing support with CV writing and interview techniques.

Sam asked Charlotte to raise the issues they’d discussed about better pay for support workers in Parliament and Charlotte promised to send a video of her doing this.