'Premier Inn' funding for top-end social care? Have your say by 19 August

Social care providers have until 19 August to have their say in a Government inquiry into whether they think councils have enough money to support people needing care.

The House of Commons' Communities and Local Government Committee, which launched an inquiry in June into the financial viability of adult social care services provided by councils and the quality of care, wants those in the care sector to give their views before the inquiry deadline.

The committee will examine whether the funding available for adult social care is sufficient for local authorities to assess and meet the needs of people requiring care. This includes looking at the impact of policies such as the National Living Wage and the two per cent council tax precept.

The committee intends to invite care providers, local authorities and Government ministers to give evidence at public sessions. It also plans to hear from organisations representing carers and care users.

Committee chair Clive Betts MP said: "Adult social care provides a lifeline to some of the most vulnerable people in society but is coming under increasing pressure as a result of growing demand and declining local authority budgets.

"Our inquiry will look at the financial sustainability of this care and support to see what can be done to allow councils to continue to meet their legal obligations for future generations."

Social care bodies have been busy writing up their advice for the inquiry including the Registered Nursing Home Association (RNHA).

Focus is on ‘what good care looks like but not what good care costs’

The RNHA's chief executive Frank Ursell told carehome.co.uk: “What does the Committee actually think it costs to give good care?"

“We’ve spent a long time looking at what good care looks like but not what good care costs”.

While some local authorities have increased the care home fees paid to care providers, many have not increased fees to the six per cent minimum the RNHA believes is needed. And to achieve really ‘good’ care, its chief executive believes care homes need closer to 12-15 per cent, which includes paying staff a good wage.

‘Premier Inn funding' for high quality care

Mr Ursell, who runs a 24-bed nursing home in Worcestershire receives £560 a week from his local authority - equating to £80 a night for 24-hour nursing care.

With many local authorities offering nursing homes of this size £550-600 a week, he argues the nightly fee would just about “buy you a night in a Premier Inn, and it doesn’t even give 24-hour nursing care”. He says a night in hospital for an elderly resident could end up costing the NHS £250-300 a night.

‘Something’s gotta give’

He says: “Care workers and older people are bearing the brunt of the Government’s austerity."

Referring to a double whammy of a growing aging population and a financial crisis for social care, he added: “Something’s got to give. More care homes will close. Older people will suffer. And who cares who will care?”

With many of the nation’s 3.2 million-strong ‘baby boomer’ generation (52-70-years-old this year) expected to enter care homes next, the RNHA is among the voices from the social care sector hoping to shout loud and this time be heard in the corridors of Whitehall.

To send a written submission via the adult social care inquiry page before the Friday 19 August deadline, visit: www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/communities-and-local-government-committee/inquiries/parliament-2015/adult-social-care-16-17/