As a care worker, you do a vital and often challenging job – frequently involving multiple visits to clients per day, each with diverse needs. 

By the very nature of your role, you are a special individual who is committed to providing your clients with the best possible care. Unfortunately, many carers give more of their time and energy than their pay packet reflects. 

How much time do carers spend with their clients? 

Most care visits are between 30 to 60 minutes, although there has been a lot of discussion in the news recently about some cases where visits lasted barely more than 5 minutes due to the tight schedule of the care workers involved.  

While this is clearly unacceptable for both clients and carers alike, many care workers are forced to reduce their visit time to accommodate travel between visits. Others work beyond the expected hours in a day to ensure that their clients receive the care and attention they deserve.  

Neither of these situations should exist. Ultimately, it’s up to each care company to create the best working conditions for their employees to prevent this situation from arising. 

What happens to your pay when travel time is unpaid? 

While care companies are legally bound to pay the National Minimum Wage, it is commonplace for care workers not to be paid for their travel time between appointments. However, once the travel time is factored in, it is illegal for your overall daily pay to amount to less than the minimum wage. From the start of April 2023, this will be £10.18 for 21- and 22-year-olds, and £10.42 per hour for those aged 23 and over.  

So, if a 32-year-old carer paid weekly at £11.50 per hour is paid £345 for 30 hours work and spent 3 unpaid hours travelling between clients, the minimum she should have received that week was £343.86 (£10.42 x 33), meaning she received £1.14 above the minimum.  

However, if the following week she was paid £345 which included 5 unpaid hours travelling, the minimum she should have been paid was £364.70 (£10.42 x 35) so she was underpaid £19.70.  

Furthermore, if you add in costs for using her own car, such as mileage and general wear and tear, her basic pay is even more reduced.  

How Assist Care Group is different 

The team at Assist Care is proud of our reputation for high quality care. We recognise the key role that our care workers have in achieving and maintaining this reputation.  

We know that for you, caring is a career and not simply a job. In order for you to focus entirely on providing high-level care to our clients, carers receive not only paid travel time, but also generous mileage expenses for travel between visits.  

The only way to ensure your hourly rate stays your hourly rate is to be paid for the travel time between your visits. 

If you are compassionate, caring, enthusiastic and committed, and are interested in joining our excellent team, please contact us at Assist Care Group.