The budget blow: dealing with the living wage – Trowers & Hamlins looks at how the change might affect provider’s contracts

The Budget in July delivered an unanticipated blow to social care providers. The introduction of a compulsory living wage rising to £9 in 2019 means a real-terms increase of about 50% over four years to bottom-line staff costs where employees are paid the minimum wage. Providers who currently pay above the minimum may not be…