Council leader’s plea to social care minister

BARNSLEY Council leader Sir Steve Houghton has written to the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care – calling on him to take ‘important steps’ to support the sector.

In a joint letter with Coun

Carl Les, the leader of North Yorkshire County Council, the government has been asked to ensure the adult social care sector reforms are a success.

The sector, described as ‘fragile’, needs clear action to be taken – including delaying the implementation of funding to ensure authorities are able to better prepare.

The letter said: “We fully support the government’s ambition to reform and improve adult social care.

“However, the adult social care system has been fragile for many years, and the additional challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic, a highly competitive labour market and the cost-of-living crisis have further exacerbated the instability of the system. This has compounded the historic under investment in adult social care, something that the CQC identifies in their 2022 State of Care report.”

The Chronicle revealed last month that around ten per cent of social care jobs in Barnsley remained vacant last year in an industry which saw more than a 50 per cent turnover of registered nurses.

A report from charity Skills for Care estimated there were around 5,700 jobs available in Barnsley’s adult social care sector last year.

However, only roughly 5,400 of these posts were filled in the timeframe.

It means the area’s vacancy rate stood just below the national average at ten per cent. There was a significant level of vacancy for support and outreach, 14 per cent, and senior care worker roles, 11 per cent. The charity’s report also found that around 400,000 people left the sector last year, with an average turnover rate of 29 per cent.

But there are services in Barnsley that sit well above the average.

Rates were especially high among registered nurses, with a turnover of 53 per cent, whilst care workers saw a rate of 35 per cent. Barnsley’s average turnover rate was 28 per cent.

The three ‘clear actions’ local leaders are asking for are delaying funding, ensuring sufficient preparation is made, and prioritising fully funding the cost of care reform.

“Whilst the funding package set out by the government for the charging reforms looks likely to meet most of the cost to local government, at least in the initial years, we are very concerned about how implementing the Fair Cost of Care will be funded” the letter added.

“We welcome the principle of a Fair Cost of Care and a number of Yorkshire councils are already implementing that approach.

“However, the national proposals require adequate funding and a clear understanding about what ‘moving to’ means.

“Having waited so long for care and support reform, we have not arrived at this position lightly.

“Still, these actions will allow time for learning and development, resulting in a more sustainable and fairer implementation.”