D&G Council pays carers living wage

All carers contracted by the council are now paid a living wage. Credit: PA

Dumfries and Galloway Council has announced it's paying a living wage of £8.25 to all Social Work Home Care services employees.

The sector has been criticised by MSPs across the different political parties, because many care workers are not paid a living wage.

The UK Home Care Association has also announced that nine out of ten councils in the UK are failing to pay realistic prices to support older and disabled people in their own home.

The council says it is making an investment of £4 million per year to ensure that social care contractors it works with do pay their staff a living wage.