chiron News
Homecare Association: The 2025-26 Minimum Price for Homecare is now available
New system: We have a new system that is better and easy to use.
New Care System
We have launched our new system, it is called One Touch. It will hold all the information about your call plans, your care assessment, medications, and a myriad of other information - you, and any authorised relatives or friends, will have access to this via our client portal so that you can monitor any aspect of our care for you on a daily or minute by minute basis . The system will also enable us to share information with your GP (with your consent). Don’t worry about how to use the system itself, your care workers will do all of that, and should be trained to do so before we begin the switchover. We will look at your care plans with you and family (where appropriate) to make sure you are happy with all the information.
Farewell to Jean & Liz
Outing
Programs
Last year our Northampton Branch launched outings, such as day trips.
We would like to extend the invitation to anyone who is interested in participating in these group outings so if anyone is interested in getting more information and wanting to join in, please let staff or Lesley/Mildred know. These have been great fun and great opportunity in meeting others. The outings can also be going to the cinema or out for a meal with staff. Also, if you have any suggestion of outings, trips you would like to see happen again pass that on.
It is also a bittersweet period for us as we say goodbye to 2 of our staff member Jean who is now retiring and Liz who has recently qualified as a Speech and language therapist.
We thank you for your commitment to excellence and your willingness to go
above and beyond have made a significant difference in the lives of those you have worked with. We have no doubt that these same qualities will make you exceptional. We wish them all the best in their future endeavours!!!
Liz (in the middle) with Lesley and Mildred
Jean (in the middle) with Lesley and Florence on her last day of work.
We are delighted to share with members our new calculation for the Minimum Price for Homecare in England is £32.14 per hour. This is effective from April 2025, when the UK statutory National Living Wage increases, and Autumn Budget measures come into effect.
Our Minimum Price is the amount required to ensure the minimum legally compliant pay rate for careworkers (excluding any enhancements for unsocial hours working), their travel time, mileage, and wage-related on-costs. The rate also includes the minimum contribution towards the costs of running a care business, which complies with quality and other legal requirements.
The significant increase from last year's minimum price reflects the 6.7% rise in the National Living Wage and substantial additional costs imposed by recent budget measures. These include an increase in employers National Insurance contributions from 13.8% to 15% and a dramatic reduction in the National Insurance threshold.
The Minimum Price calculation includes not just wage rates, but also associated costs such as employers National Insurance, statutory pension contributions, and holiday pay.