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News Fair Pay Agreement currently ‘unworkable’ says LGA


The Local Government Association has warned that the proposed adult social care Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) is unworkable without adequate funding and local government involvement in the negotiating body. In its submission to the Department for


Health and Social Care’s FPA in Adult Social Care consultation, the LGA called for local government to be at the heart of the FPA process. While the government has announced


£500m will be available for the first FPA in 2028, drawn from the £4bn that was previously announced in the Spending Review – a figure incorporating income from council tax increases – the LGA is concerned that, with 1.6m workers in adult social care potentially in scope, even this amount would not be sufficient to cover a FPA in full and would put further pressure on already stretched council budgets. The LGA has therefore called for full


central government funding for all costs, including implementation and consequent legal liabilities, direct local government representation within the Adult Social Care Negotiating Body (ASCNB), a full Equality Impact Assessment, and a recognition of the


legal and bureaucratic burdens placed on councils. Cllr Pete Marland, chair of the LGA’s Local


Government Resources Committee, said: “The focus on improving pay in adult social care is important and a vital step towards securing long-term sustainability for the sector and its workforce. “However, current funding proposal is not


likely to be sufficient to cover the full cost of a Fair Pay Agreement and councils cannot be expected to fork out for the additional costs


New Codes of Practice for Welsh social care workers


Social Care Wales has announced that, from July, social care employers and workers in Wales will need to follow updated Codes of Professional Practice. Two sets of codes – The Code of Professional Practice for Social Care Workers, and the Code of Professional Practice for Social Care Employers – currently set out what is expected of


social care workers and employers across Wales. According to Social Care Wales, the codes have been updated in order to make them ‘clearer and easier to follow’. Social Care Wales has also updated its practice guidance, which explains how to apply the Workers’ Code in day- to-day practice. Standards of practice and behaviour, meanwhile, will remain unchanged.


According to the updated Code of Professional Practice for Social Care Workers itself, the new guidance is both ‘clearer and shorter, with more focus on anti-discrimination’.


The new codes can be found here: https://socialcare.wales/dealing-with- concerns/codes-of-practice-and- guidance


associated with implementation. Councils need assurances that all costs arising from the introduction of FPAs will be covered by central government. “Local government has a critical role


in adult social care for local people, but is proposed to have minimal engagement in the development of an FPA. Local government needs to be part of decision-making to avoid a scenario where the introduction of an FPA jeopardises the supply of care and sustainability of council finances.”


Hartford Care acquires 16 homes from Select Healthcare Group


Hartford Care Group has taken over the management of 16 care homes across England and North Wales from Select Healthcare Group. The move, which follows the acquisition


of Select Healthcare Group by Foundation Partners and Deer Capital, brings Hartford Care’s portfolio to 45 homes and 2,327 bedrooms. Hartford Care chief executive Kevin Shaw


said: “The acquisition of 16 homes from Select Healthcare Group is another important milestone in our ambitious growth plan for Hartford Care. With over 2,500 dedicated team members, our expansion into the Midlands, Essex, North Wales and further into Kent enables us to offer our expert care and ‘home from home’ environment to more residents in new communities.”


February 2026 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com 9


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