Teresa launches care worker survey

Teresa has today launched a survey aimed at those who work, or who have worked, as care workers with elderly and disabled people, urging them to share their experiences.

The objective of the survey is to gain a better understanding of the working conditions of care workers, and to determine how these can be improved, for the benefit of both care workers and their clients. Questions focus on employment rights, support networks, salaries, and personal views.

Teresa is targeting members of her constituency who work as care workers, and care workers who may live outside the constituency, but who provide support to residents in Erith & Thamesmead. However, the thoughts and opinions of anyone willing to share will be most welcome.

Respondents can remain anonymous if they wish, and all personal details will be treated as strictly confidential. The survey can be completed online but, if a paper copy is preferable, these can be obtained by either calling, or sending an email to, Teresa’s office. Please remember to put ‘Hardcopy Survey’ in the subject line of the email.

The survey opened today and will remain open until Wednesday 29th January 2014. Teresa is aiming to publish the results of the survey to coincide with Dignity Action Day on Saturday 1st February 2014.

Teresa said:

“Care workers provide invaluable support to elderly and disabled people, making them feel comfortable in their own homes. Given that our population is aging, and that we are living longer than ever before, it is clear that more and more people are going to need the assistance of homecare services in the future. 

 

At the moment, many care workers are not being given the recognition that they deserve. This Government has failed to enforce the National Minimum Wage and crack down on employers who fail to pay their staff a minimum wage. This has led to many care workers feeling undervalued and unmotivated. By failing to ensure that care workers are treated with the respect that they deserve, this Government risks failing those that the sector is there to care for.

 

This is why I have launched this care worker survey today, to learn more about the experiences of my constituents, who work as care workers, and also the experiences of care workers who work in my constituency.

 

Zero hour contracts, wages below the National Minimum Wage, the lack of basic employment rights, and poor working conditions, are not acceptable, and I want to learn as much about these issues as possible so that I can gain a better understanding of the extent of the problem across Erith & Thamesmead and beyond.

 

Care workers should be valued and supported. It is vital that they feel secure so that they can provide the best, most consistent possible service to the vulnerable people they assist. I would urge anyone who works, or who has worked, as a care worker to complete this survey and to share their views as soon as possible.”

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