On 30 September 2025, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced a £500 million investment to establish the first ever Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) for adult social care workers in England. This represents a landmark moment for the sector, recognising the urgent need to address pay, conditions and career progression in the workforce.
A Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) is a legally binding framework through which employers and trade unions negotiate pay, terms and conditions for a sector-wide workforce.
For adult social care, this will be the first time that pay and conditions are set collectively at a national level, providing:
Greater consistency in wages and terms across providers.
Stronger worker voice through recognised negotiations.
Improved recruitment and retention by making care a more attractive and sustainable career.
A foundation for seeing social care work as a profession, not just a job.
The FPA will be backed in law by the Employment Rights Bill, currently progressing through Parliament.
£500 million has been allocated to fund the establishment of the agreement.
This investment forms part of a wider package of reforms, including:
A £2,000 uplift in the Carer’s Allowance.
Expansion of the Disabled Facilities Grant to deliver 15,000 more home adaptations.
Increased funding for training and qualifications, supporting a universal career structure.
30 September 2025 – Announcement of the FPA and launch of consultation.
2026 – Legislation to establish the Adult Social Care Negotiating Body.
2027 – Negotiations on the first agreement to take place.
2028 – First Fair Pay Agreement expected to come into force.
Pay and conditions will no longer be set solely at organisational level; providers will need to comply with nationally negotiated standards.
The FPA is intended to stabilise the workforce, reducing high vacancy and turnover rates.
It will provide opportunities to feed into the process through consultation and representation on the negotiating body.
It is vital that providers’ voices are heard to ensure the agreement is practical, affordable and delivers benefits for both employers and staff.
The Government has launched its FPA consultation process.
It is essential that providers’ voices are represented. Use the links below to access the consultation response forms and supporting documents.
Consultation Deadlines:
16 January 2026 – deadline for responses to the main consultation.
6 March 2026 – extended deadline for responses submitted using the Easy Read survey format.
Government Press Release – £500 million for first ever Fair Pay Agreement
DHSC has launched a public consultation to gather views on the design of the FPA process.
This is a critical opportunity for providers in the South East to shape the framework and ensure that the realities of delivering care are reflected in national policy.
Fair Pay Agreement process in adult social care – Consultation Document
Deadline: The consultation is open until 16 January 2026.