Jane Townson OBE’s Post

The Conservative Party manifesto is more of the same (ie precious little) for social care and I agree with Jane Townson. Jane cites today's challenges – unmet need; poor commissioning; fragmented services; unstable markets; a struggling workforce; declining quality; and ineffective regulation. I also agree that; "Caring for each other is a fundamental human need and ... that Politicians who ignore this are ignoring what is important to most of us." "The demographic shifts are also increasing the demand for care services, and, "We do need to transform how we fund, provide, and enable access to care. All I would add is that supporting people to live well in a place that people can call home is a must which should be at the heart of government policy, and that should not ignore people needing 24/7 support. Home care and residential care have people with different circumstances. There is so much need, that this should not a competition, of one social care sector against another, nor should this be about the NHS (or Government) against any sector or the group of people it serves. Policy should support people irrespective.

Many things about this government make me apoplectic, but none more so than the dreadful effect their budget is having on the care sector. Yet again, the care sector is the 'forgotten child' with never enough attention, money or support given when and where it's needed. Meantime, the 'favourite', the NHS gets even MORE money thrown at it. It was the same when I worked in the sector from 2009 to 2019 and it seems nothing has changed. This budget is set to create yet more problems and difficulties, squeezing care providers to within an inch of their operational lives, if they survive at all, not to mention the people who depend on them for both care and employment. An article in The Carer sums up this appalling situation, and it makes for depressing reading. https://bit.ly/3Zoneow Here's a quote from Professor Vic Rayner OBE, Chair of the Care Provider Alliance. This says it all really. “The government must be under no illusion that the sector can absorb or accommodate these increased costs. Without adequate support, we now know for certain that services will close, care providers will stop delivering public services, and care workers will lose their jobs. Critically, a huge number of people who rely on care and support will go without or see their lives deteriorate. The £600m announced for social care won’t touch the sides of a £2.8bn cost burden identified by the Nuffield Trust. We know the potential of social care to transform people’s lives – and create jobs. This decision will take us backwards.” And, in the words of one provider: “We have made it through a global pandemic and cost-of-living crisis only to be shut down by the very government that we hoped would save us. This is not just about business viability – it’s about the lives of hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people who rely on these essential services.” Are those in Westminster unaware that imposing these changes to NI Contributions and the National Living Wage will trigger a chain reaction? Care Providers are already struggling with tight margins. They will have to pass on some of these costs to their clients, with some already struggling to pay for their care. The net result: clients will probably be forced to cut back on their care calls because they cannot afford the increased price and consequently suffer the result of that with more visits to the hospital and ambulance callouts! Oh. But wait. That's ok because the NHS is getting a shed load of money injected into its already crumbling system, so presumably there will be someone there to take care of them. As if our overworked hospital staff doesn't have enough to do. I despair for all those I know who work so hard, day in, and day out getting the care to those who need it. It's a horrid situation and one they shouldn't still be fighting to resolve. I salute you. All of you. You deserve better. #homecareproviders #careprofessionals #caresector #saveourcaresector

Urgent Call To Address Devastating Impact Of Budget On Care And Support The Care Provider Alliance (CPA) today are sharing devastating findings from a comprehensive survey of over 1,180 care and support providers, revealing the social care sector faces potential collapse due to the combined impact of National Insurance changes and National Living Wage increases announced in the recent Budget. This has terrible consequences for the many hundreds of thousands of people aged 18 and over, who every day rely on good quality social care – be it residential care, supported living, extra-care, homecare or specialist support. This comes in the wake of independent research by the Nuffield Trust showing £2.8bn additional cost burden on care providers1. The survey, representing providers who care for hundreds of thousands of people across England, paints an alarming picture of a sector already stretched to breaking point now facing impossible choices. In the words of one provider: "We have made it through a global pandemic and cost of living crisis only to be shut down by the very government that we hoped would save us. This is not just about business viability - it's about the lives of hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people who rely on these essential services." Key findings show that without immediate government intervention: • 73% will have to refuse new care packages from local authorities or the NHS • 57% will hand back existing contracts to local authorities or the NHS • 77% will have to draw on reserves • 64% will have to make staff redundant • 92% of providers who also serve people who pay for their own care will be forced to increase rates for self-funders. Many self-funders will be unable to bear extra costs and may reduce care or rely more on family carers. • 22% are planning to close their businesses entirely Professor Vic Rayner OBE, Chair of the Care Provider Alliance, said: "The government must be under no illusion that the sector can absorb or accommodate these increased costs. Without adequate support, we now know for certain that services will close, care providers will stop delivering public services, and care workers will lose their jobs. Critically, a huge number of people who rely on care and support will go without or see their lives deteriorate. The £600m announced for social care won't touch the sides of a £2.8bn cost burden identified by the Nuffield Trust. We know the potential of social care to transform people’s lives – and create jobs. This decision will take us backwards" The Survey Reveals Devastating Impacts Across All Types Of Care Provision: Homecare Services The 479 homecare providers surveyed report multiple operational challenges. Providers estimate cost increases of 9-12%, which council and NHS commissioners say they cannot meet. In addition to the actions listed above: • 42.9% will need to shorten care visits • 38.2% are considering moving to unregulated care delivery models One provider warned: "The maj…

When you look at the shortfall in funding over the years it is a testament to providers who have continued to innovate and deliver care and support across the sector. Years off 0%/2% increases from councils over the years whilst increases in costs have been between 8-10% has eroded any resilience they had. The impact on those receiving care or waiting for assessment for care will be catastrophic if a percentage of sme providers decide the increases in NI, if not funded, is the final straw. Join the voices of #providersunite to show your support for the sector that enables people to live the life they want.

The Public Accounts Committee has published a hard-hitting report warning that the government's plans for reforming adult social care in England have gone awry. The report highlights several key issues: • Integrated Care Systems are not yet delivering for social care • Additional funding is not providing value for money because of its short-term nature • Local authorities lack long-term funding to plan services effectively • There is still no credible long-term plan to fix chronic workforce shortages • Promised workforce reforms are badly behind schedule • Overall progress against the government's 10-year vision is inadequate The committee calls for urgent action, including multi-year funding settlements, a comprehensive workforce strategy, greater transparency of outcomes data, and a clear roadmap for delivering the government's reform ambitions. The findings underscore the challenges facing the sector and the need for concrete plans to give confidence that the promised improvements to adult social care will become a reality. Our Homecare Association comment is here: https://lnkd.in/ekD7kR4r We are calling for: 1. Immediate multi-year funding settlements to stabilise the sector 2. A comprehensive workforce strategy to tackle unacceptable pay and conditions 3. A seat at the table for social care providers in ICSs 4. A published timetable for delivering training and registration reforms 5. Full transparency on progress against clear milestones #socialcare #reform #funding #workforce #ICS

The Government's shameful response to the petition – “Exempt all social care providers from the employer NIC increase”. But let's be real here: this response is just not good enough! Their commitment to provide support is limited to costs arising from changes to National Insurance Contributions for ONS-defined public sector organizations only. This is a blatant oversight and a slap in the face for adult social care, which is already facing immense cost pressures. The Government has considered these pressures as part of local government spending and decided to offer a meager real-terms uplift to core local government spending power of around 3.2%, which includes just £1.3 billion of new grant funding for 2025-26. Further details will be set out in December, but let's not kid ourselves into thinking this will adequately address the pervasive issues in social care. Moreover, while they talk about the importance of building consensus for a long-term reform to create a National Care Service based on consistent national standards, it’s clear that reform will not happen overnight. The current proposals lack urgency and recognition of the immediate struggles faced by care providers, families, and community members. We need to act NOW! Reform is not just a box to tick when it comes to governmental priorities—it should be a fundamental commitment to the very backbone of our healthcare system! If you’re as frustrated as I am, let’s raise our voices and demand more! We deserve a future where social care isn't treated as an afterthought but is prioritised and adequately funded, empowering us to provide quality and compassionate care for all. Enough is enough! The time for half-hearted measures has passed. It's time for robust action and real reform in the social care sector #CareNotCustody #DemandBetter #SocialCareReform #EmpowerOurCareWorkers Katrina Hall https://lnkd.in/erjyxkn8

Care Sector Hit by Double-Whammy Rising Costs Could Force Providers Out Measures announced in yesterday’s Autumn Statement will make it harder to provide care to older, vulnerable and disabled adults, campaigners warned today. The care provider organisation, The Independent Care Group (ICG) said the sector had been left out in the cold as the Chancellor gave with one hand but took away with the other. The ICG welcomed an extra £600m for social care and an increase in Carers Allowance announced by the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves. But it was dismayed after an increase in employer’s National Insurance contributions and a rise in the National Living Wage heaped pressure on care providers. Those measures may well result in more providers quitting the sector at a time when 2m people can’t get the care they need and social care cannot help the NHS to lower waiting lists. The ICG had sent an open letter to Rachel Reeves urging her to support rather than harm social care. But ICG Chair Mike Padgham said: “That plea fell on deaf ears and there was very little cheer for social care in today’s Autumn Statement as it was once again left out in the cold. “The £600m on social care is welcome but by the time it is distributed to 152 local authorities and shared with children’s services it will have little or no impact. “Any extra funding that might reach providers will be wiped off instantly by the increases in National Insurance and minimum pay which will together heap further pressure on social care providers. “For some they may well be the final straw, all at a time when we should be growing social care provision to meet the needs of 2m people who currently can’t get the care they need.” In the Autumn Statement the Chancellor increased employer’s National Insurance by 1.2% and lowered the threshold at which employers have to pay the tax on a worker’s earnings, from £9,100 to £5,000. She also confirmed that the National Living Wage will go up to £12.21 an hour and the National Minimum Wage for those aged 18 to 20 up to £10 an hour next spring. Mr Padgham added: “As a labour-intensive sector, the last thing social care needed today was an increase in employee costs and, through the rise in National Insurance and the lowering of the NI threshold, that is what we got. “For a lot of providers this will place existential pressure on them and could well push some out of business, unless it is matched by extra funding to those who commission care and there was little sign of that. “We all want to pay our staff better – we are going through a recruitment crisis, so need to make the sector competitive. But, again, raising the minimum wage will put more and more financial worry on to care providers, unless we get better funding into social care. “Those who commission care, like local authorities and Integrated Care Boards, have not paid providers the true price of delivering care for many years, which has brought social care to the sorry position it is …

Delighted to see this review of the cost of inaction on reforming adult social care by the Parliament Health & Social Care Committee Chaired by Layla Moran MP. High quality affordable social care benefits us all. Not reforming it costs us all. The cost pressure on our essential providers of adult social care has been taken to another level through the National Insurance reforms in the budget - there are so many good things in the budget, but taking money from social care public service providers needs a serious rethink. https://lnkd.in/enjk-emy

This should be a compulsory read for anyone working on health reform of not just Residential Aged Care but reforming how we provide health and social care for our ageing population because it illustrates the systemic reforms that are required to deliver real reform from countries who are leading the world in caring for their ageing citizens. These countries do not have high rates of institutionalised aged care yet this seems to be the first step we are taking in our reforms. The economics of trying to solve this by providing more beds in RACF’s as a long term solution just doesn’t stack up for Australia as we don’t have the workforce. We will need some real visionary reforms to fix this one and a lot of collaboration to break through the fragmentation our federated model has created . We also can’t sit on our hands and wait for the private sector to sort out how to fix the ageing technology they have invested in that is no longer fit for purpose and has been superseded. We need to invest in modern digital infrastructure now. This is going to take some courageous and visionary leadership to make some decisions that may not be popular but we need to remember this is about dignity and respect for our ageing population. #healthreform #agedcare #healthequity

In the midst of previous speculation of possible delays to adult social care charging reforms, the government has now scrapped the planned cap on care costs altogether. The reforms were originally set to be implemented in October 2025, a date set by the previous government, but Chancellor Rachel Reeves claimed that the government was due to overspend budgets by £21.9bn by the end of 2024-25, and that cancelling these reforms would save £1.1bn by the end of 2025-26. The reforms involved:  ☑ Putting an £86,000 cap on people’s lifetime liabilities for their personal care ☑ Enabling self-funders to request their council arrange a care home placement for them to benefit from typically lower rates that councils pay for care ☑ Funding councils to pay providers a 'fair cost of care' to avoid the removal of the self-funder subsidy ☑ Raising the upper and lower capital thresholds from £23,500 to £100,000 and £14,250 to £20,000 respectively. In an analysis for the CCN, the estimated costs to implement the reforms had increased and combined with the forecasted need for an additional 4443 social work staff and 700 financial assessors to support this additional workload, "86% of councils said they were not well prepared to implement the reforms and 92% backed a delay of a year or more." Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eN5saewH Let us know your thoughts! 👇 #uksocialcare #socialcarereforms #adultsocialcare