AQW 51428/11-16

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 25/11/2015
Answered On Date: 17/12/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the average hourly rate paid to domiciliary care staff.

Answer:

Domiciliary care staff across the health and social care sector are paid at Agenda for Change (AfC) Band 2 and Band 3 rates. The pay point is dependent on the individual’s length of service. For example, for Band 2, pay point 1 the hourly rate equals £7.31 and for Band 2, pay point 6 it equals £8.91 (based on 2014/15 AfC pay award). These rates exceed those proposed in relation to the new National Living Wage effective April 2016.

I cannot comment on the hourly rate paid to staff employed by independent domiciliary care providers.