The Office for National Statistics recorded a reduction in the average mean pay gap for full time staff as 8.3% (up from 7.9% in 2021).

The ONS data on Senior Care Workers (gap of 0.0%) and Care Workers (-1.1%) reflects the United Response gap whilst closing is still indicative of male roles receiving more at a Care Worker level in comparison to the national benchmark for that role.

As part of the benchmarking work that United Response participate in the People Count return in 2022 reflects that the mean gender pay gap is 7.3% and the median 0% across charities and not for profit organisations for all employees.

This year United Response has reduced the gender pay gap compared to 2021’s submission but this remains significantly less than the People Count and ONS returns for all employees.

As part of the requirement to publish the figures United Response provides a short narrative in explanation of the figures and any action that is to be taken to narrow the gap.

United Response is a charity, founded 1973, which provides support to individuals with learning and physical disabilities and individuals with a mental health diagnosis within England and Wales.

United Response is predominantly funded through Local Authority commissioning to provide support services within Health and Social Care.

The care sector historically attracts a greater proportion of female employees. United Response, in this respect, reflects a 71.3% female workforce population.

The median gap figure reflects a decrease compared to 2021. This is mainly due to the exit from the Covid pandemic and the closure of the furlough schemes.

Additional staff payments made and taken into account were the recognition payments, payments due to Covid retention schemes by different commissioners, refer a friend payments and smaller staff recognition awards.

This is reflected in the level of payments being lower than 2021 and mainly due to the fact that there was no organisation wide payment to staff relating to CV19.

The Quartile ranges are broadly indicative of our workforce gender make up of 71.3% female and 28.7% male.

United Response took the decision in September 2021 to follow the Real Living Wage as the base rate of pay for operational staff.

In October 2022 The Board expressed intent to continue to follow the Real Living Wage but recognised the significant financial pressures that exist to undertake this in one step.

Therefore the base rate was raised to £10.40 per hour with a view to review, subject to budget, a further move to £10.90 per hour in 2023.

Mark Ospedale
Director of Corporate Services

View: United Response 2022/23 gender pay gap report on Gov.uk