I am an Assistant Manager at a council- run day support service for adults with learning disabilities. I have a permanent contract and I've been doing my present job for 4 years, having previously worked as a care assistant and a senior carer in the same establishment. A proposed service restructure will mean my job grading (and consequently a substantial part of my wage) will be reduced, but my job description does not appear to have changed significantly. Most people who are doing the same job as me in the similar facilities are on temporary contracts or "acting up" in their positions, so do not have permanent contracts at the moment. The assistant manager and unit manager posts here have been downgraded(most of the managers were also on temp. contracts) but the senior managers' wages and conditions have not been changed, and two new members have been appointed to the senior management team. While I fully appreciate that times are hard for the council, and cutbacks must be made, cutting the wages of front-line managers, but not those of others "higher up" is, I feel, a kick in the teeth for frontline managers who ensure that services for vulnerable people who need them are run properly, and that those directly providing those services are supported appropriately. Although we are in a "consultation" period at the moment, a senior manager has informed us that these proposals will be going through.

I do bank for Severn hospice and they have got it right in all areas as far as I'm concerned, if they can recruit the right people, work in a relaxed happy way , everything well stocked and in a orderly manner , clean , tidy , organised, if they can do it then why on earth can't all care homes run it the same way I'm baffled they really have got it right so if the government want an example if we'll run care then please talk to them and roll there principles out across the board

Only worked in care for three years after being a retail manager for 15 was hoping to make a second career but after doing mbira my nvqs I'm thinking it's a waste of time , poor pay , rules always being broken by management , foreign workers favoured over me because they don't speak out or complain and they don't speak good English and half the time can't write it either treat our elderly with disrespect and shout at them , no point saying anything because your tested like a trouble maker, long shifts with no proper breaks , medication errors cause anyone can be trained to give them after being watched three times , no confidentiality and no one to turn to even the cqc are a joke and warn managers when they come and don't do a thorough job , I worked in a home that had a visit got rating good yet I know cleaning wasent done and red mop heads for toilets were being washed with residents clothes every day I told seniors who said manager knows and does nothing this is how it is in care , continually breaking rules and being hard on staff never being recognised for a job well done , also not taking on the right staff with the right attitude or taking staff on then putting them on a dementia unit and it puts them off , should be dedicated and trained staff only for working with dementia not just anyone thus is when abuse happens because not everyone can cope with their demands and behaviour, I'm so disappointed that I'm considering going back into retail

I'm a supply teacher and schools have allowed agencies to take over supply. This means an instant 30% payout and no contributions into the teacher's pension, which is the best pension there is so there is a whole generation of supply teachers who earn less with no pension to look forward to. As supply teacher's are effectively zero hours workers with no holiday pay, sick pay or worker's rights this is an appalling example for children, but it's a situation that school leaders have allowed to develop no doubt to protect their own high pay and gold plated pension. They save no more than a few pounds a day over employing supply teacher's directly, but who knows what incentives agencies are offering them to use their services, as I know agencies give gifts to schools for using them. It beggars belief that the state pays to train teachers and then pays someone else who has had no financial input into this training for the privilege of using these same teacher's and at the same time to make millions. It is supply teachers who are paying the price, as well as getting less work anyway because the government changed the law to allow unqualified cover supervisors to take lessons but that's another story

I am a supply teacher and am registered with a number of agencies - as are a growing number of teachers. Even though we are professionals our lack of employment rights are the same as other agency workers and from my own experience raise the following issues: minimum wage for support staff with no specified hours; not paid for dinner break even though we can't get other employment for that half/hour; job insecurity; holiday pay being deducted from an already minimum wage; every day is an interview with the fear 'having a bad day' (which we all do) which will have a negative impact on our reputation with the agency and therefore future employment; few references from long term epositions that can be used to get a 'proper job'; I have been told that schools have to pay the agency a 'fee' if they want to employ us which puts schools off of employing us properly (i find this particularly scandalous and suggest that there should be an enquiry into this alone); the list goes on - not to mention the negative impact on the education of our children, school budgets etc etc

I am employed by a local council as a driver carer which means my pay is the living wage my conditions are good but I am allowed only a half hour break unpaid for lunch whilst I don't expect to get paid for my lunch break I am allowed a cup of tea as long as I take it with the service users I don't class this as a break as surely a break is a break away from work so I rarely take one I work 36.5 hours a week now in previous employments if you were working 4 hours or more you got a morning break as I work 8 hours a day Monday to Wednesday less my half hour lunch and 7.5 hours a day less my lunch break Thursday and Friday total 36.5 hours worked I feel I am entitled to a paid tea break sometime during my working day

I have worked in the care industry for the past 6 years and am currently employed in a residential home for the elderly, who suffer both physical disability and also Alzheimer's and Dementia. we currently have 24 residents, during the mornings there are 4 care staff (including a senior) and various other staff. I work the awake night shift with one other person, that's 12 residents each to take care of. These individuals ALL need help during the 10hr shift, whether that's support to access the toilet, continence care in the form of pads, repositioning to prevent bed sores or just answering bells and giving reassurance, especially to those with Dementia or Alzheimer's. As you can imagine we are busy enough, then add the added pressure of having to call Dr's, DN or the emergency services if needed. Still, this not considered enough for us to do! We have to clean chairs, mop floors, do any laundry that is left from the late shift and peel the vegetables in the kitchen and clean and mop the floor. In our spare time we also clean wheel chairs and the hoists, and do hourly visual checks on the residents and complete the relevant paper work, all this for minimum wage. When I first went into care I had no qualifications, and was receiving minimum wage, but I have since completed my NVQ level 2 and complete all my mandatory training and attend other training relevant to my role, as I want to do the very best for the individuals in my care. For doing all this I still only earn minimum wage. I could stack beans for better money! I have also encountered in the past, bulling, intimidation and a total lack of respect from those in senior positions. I have had many different jobs, and have never felt so worthless and undervalued as I do in this industry, except from the service users who are amazing! I would never encourage anyone to take this up as a career, the pay and working conditions are appalling. Where I am currently employed, the manageress is wonderful to her staff, (very unusual), but the owner thinks we are still in Victorian times. We as a country should be ashamed that the people who care for the most vulnerable in our society, are treated as the lowest of the low and fully disposable!

I have worked in the care industry for the past 6 years and am currently employed in a residential home for the elderly, who suffer both physical disability and also Alzheimer's and Dementia. we currently have 24 residents, during the mornings there are 4 care staff (including a senior) and various other staff. I work the awake night shift with one other person, that's 12 residents each to take care of. These individuals ALL need help during the 10hr shift, whether that's support to access the toilet, continence care in the form of pads, repositioning to prevent bed sores or just answering bells and giving reassurance, especially to those with Dementia or Alzheimer's. As you can imagine we are busy enough, then add the added pressure of having to call Dr's, DN or the emergency services if needed. Still, this not considered enough for us to do! We have to clean chairs, mop floors, do any laundry that is left from the late shift and peel the vegetables in the kitchen and clean and mop the floor. In our spare time we also clean wheel chairs and the hoists, and do hourly visual checks on the residents and complete the relevant paper work, all this for minimum wage. When I first went into care I had no qualifications, and was receiving minimum wage, but I have since completed my NVQ level 2 and complete all my mandatory training and attend other training relevant to my role, as I want to do the very best for the individuals in my care. For doing all this I still only earn minimum wage. I could stack beans for better money! I have also encountered in the past, bulling, intimidation and a total lack of respect from those in senior positions. I have had many different jobs, and have never felt so worthless and undervalued as I do in this industry, except from the service users who are amazing! I would never encourage anyone to take this up as a career, the pay and working conditions are appalling. Where I am currently employed, the manageress is wonderful to her staff, (very unusual), but the owner thinks we are still in Victorian times. We as a country should be ashamed that the people who care for the most vulnerable in our society, are treated as the lowest of the low and fully disposable!

I am a support worker for adults with learning difficulties and I'm earning less than I did 20 years ago in the same job role due to a 40% pay cut. I now work night shifts for the same hourly rate as a day shift. My employer now wants to cut my sick pay for the first 28 days to save money on paying agency fees. If this goes ahead I will have to turn to food banks to feed my family. Here are some of my responsibilities along with supporting vulnerable adults: administrating medication, running shifts, paperwork,loading wheelchairs in vehicles as well as driving vehicles. I feel demoralised. I may as well work in my local Spar shop. I fear I will not even be able to afford the petrol to drive to work. I'm being forced out of a job I love.

The pay in care sector I think is ridiculous for the job role we do. No enhancement for working christmas day, bank holidays or weekends. Most important staffing issues as there is no enough staff to cover the shifts which obviously creates health and safety issues for all the residents sometimes dont even get any breaks . Unfair rates of pay between new and old contracts.