‘Social care plan is not enough to tackle crisis’
LEADER’S PLEA TO GOVERNMENT
EAST Riding Council’s leader has said the Government should look again at its social care proposals to address an “immediate crisis” in finding staff.
Councillor Jonathan Owen said workers were leaving the sector “at a rate of knots” with action needed now to fill vacancies.
He added he was tabling a motion at yesterday’s council meeting calling on the Government to increase funding for the sector and mount a national recruitment campaign.
The leader’s comments follow the unveiling of the government’s proposals to reform the adult social care sector in September, with a consultation on them set to begin this month.
The proposed reforms would see the NHS and the social care sector brought “closer together” and workers offered new training and qualifications, the Department for Health has stated.
Means tests would be introduced from October 2023 to determine levels of support to help those in care meet the costs. The government has also proposed a new Health and Social Care Levy which would be raised through National Insurance hikes from April.
The Government is set to spend about £5.4bn on the sector in the next three years. But it said it would expect local authorities to meet growing costs from an ageing population through council tax and budget changes.
Cllr Owen said while the Government’s reforms would go “some way” addressing issues in the sector, more was needed to address current problems.
He added the Government’s expectation for councils to cover rising future costs would hit low income areas hardest and did not amount to “levelling up”.
The council leader said: “Just as we’re seeing problems with shortages of lorry drivers and other workers, we’re also seeing shortages of care workers, particularly in domiciliary or home care.
“Staff working for almost the minimum wage are leaving the sector at a rate of knots for jobs in the hospitality sector and supermarkets where they can earn more.
“And you only have to look at somewhere like Beverley where restaurants are competing for staff and workers can earn more there than in care.
“The Government has said its proposals would level up the care sector, but its longer-term proposals will take about three years to implement.
“We’re struggling to find staff here now and to provide the care that’s needed for residents on a weekly basis.
“The solution the Government’s proposing will see about 80 per cent of the overall money pledged for health and social care go to the NHS.
“The NHS deserves every penny it gets, but in the short term we don’t have enough care workers.
“The East Riding’s population is elderly and growing, we’ve also got issues with trying to deliver care across a largely rural area.
“I hope this call will be replicated elsewhere.
“It’s not just a problem here it’s a national problem.”