The Living Wage

6 What about care work and in-work poverty? The case of care workers in the UK

Julie Prowse, Peter Prowse and Jeremé Snook

Introduction

The social care sector in the United Kingdom (UK) has experienced numerous changes over the last 30 years that culminated in the problems experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 (Cominetti et al. 2020). At the same time, care workers are heralded as ‘heroes’ and essential workers. This accolade does not necessarily fit with the experience of care workers who for many years have been a neglected and ignored workforce. This chapter presents research examining the work and experiences of care workers employed in care homes in the social care sector across a single region in Yorkshire, UK. Initially, ...