THOUSANDS of elderly and disabled people are being failed by a social care sector that is in “a shocking state” following many years of underfunding, Unison has warned.

The union also blamed privatisation and workforce exploitation, adding that the recruitment crisis in social care would not be resolved until wages rise.

Unison said the government’s promised fair pay agreement would be the first step towards a national care service in England.

In a debate on the opening day of the TUC Congress in Brighton today, the union called for an end to the “exploitation” of migrant care staff, who are stopping the sector from going under.

Social care employers in England have 131,000 fewer workers than they need and as long as pay rates remain around the minimum wage mark, the sector will be unable to recruit and retain sufficient staff to meet the growing demands of an ageing population, Unison argued.

General secretary Christina McAnea said: “Social care is in a shocking state after many years of neglect.

“The sector is in crisis, with ever greater numbers of vulnerable people in need of care and record workforce vacancies.

“Care workers will only feel valued enough to stay when they are paid higher wages and treated better.”