Chancellor urged to take action to save care sector
UKHCA through the Care Provider Alliance support the open letter to the Chancellor and Secretaries of State for Health and Communities issued Wednesday 9 December (note 1).
Colin Angel, UKHCA’s Policy and Campaigns Director said:
“There is an urgent need for adequate funding of the social care system right now. The introduction of the National Living Wage, if not funded by councils which purchase the majority of care, increases the risk of providers exiting the state-funded market.
“This collective response from across the sector says that all though we welcome the Chancellor’s attempt to address social care, we are far from confident as to whether a 2% levy on council tax bills and the increase of the Better Care Fund will prevent the immediate threat of social care providers exiting the market.
“The Chancellor needs to hear the message from all sides of the social care sector and act decisively.”
Ends
Notes for Editors
1. Open Letter response embargoed till Wednesday 9 December 0900 hrs
http://www.ukhca.co.uk/pdfs/CARESECTORRESPONSETOTHEAUTUMNSTATEMENT03.12.15.pdf
2. UKHCA’s mission, as a member-led professional association, is to promote high quality, sustainable care services so that people can continue to live at home and in their local community. We do this by campaigning, and through leadership and support to social care providers.
3. UKHCA has a vetting procedure for its members, all of whom agree to abide by the Association’s Code of Practice, which can be found at www.ukhca.co.uk/codeofpractice.aspx.
4. There are over 9,100 registered homecare providers across the UK, the majority of which (84%) are in the independent and voluntary sectors. We estimate that these organisations employ over 438,000 homecare workers, who deliver over 6.29 million hours of care per week to around 536,000 service users, valued at £5.2 billion per annum.
5. Homecare encompasses provision of personal care, to people in their own homes. For many, homecare is the alternative of choice for people who would otherwise need to move into residential accommodation.
6. The majority of homecare is funded by the state (usually by local council social services departments, Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), or Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland). However, homecare services are largely delivered by independent and voluntary sector providers working under contracts with the statutory sector.
7. Regularly updated statistical information about homecare services in all four UK administrations is available from "An Overview of the UK Domiciliary Care Sector" at www.ukhca.co.uk/downloads.aspx?id=109.
8. A high resolution royalty-free image of the Colin Angel quoted in this release is available:
9. For further information please contact:
Colin Angel, Policy and Campaigns Director
United Kingdom Homecare Association Ltd
Sutton Business Centre, Restmor Way, Wallington, SM6 7AH
Telephone: 020 8661 8188
Mobile: 07920 788993
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.ukhca.co.uk
Registered in England, No. 3083104.
