Today the Communities and Local Government Select Committee has published its report into social care funding.
The committee found that social care funding is so inadequate that only the minimum care needed to get through the day was being provided by councils. Care is being provided to fewer people and only to those with the highest needs. There is a high turnover in the social care workforce and quality of care is deteriorating.
Sue Bott, Deputy Chief Executive DR UK comments;
“I welcome the findings of this report which will come as no surprise to disabled people who are living with the inadequacies of the social care system unable to lead full and active lives as equal citizens. I hope that the Government and politicians from all political parties will finally take note.
We are promised a Green Paper but we have been here before and we have seen the funding reforms provided for in part 2 of the Care Act kicked into the long grass.
But every consultation is an opportunity and we at DR UK will certainly play our full part in any review of social care funding and will be arguing not just for adequate funding but for a system that allows for disabled people to be active, equal citizens in our local communities."
Key recommendations of the report
- An immediate increase in government funding to meet the current short-fall
- The Care Quality Commission to oversee the commissioning and procurement of services by Councils
- Improve the status of the care workforce through better working conditions, availability of training and a proper career structure
- Councils to consider innovative ways of meeting social care needs
- Aligning the health and social care workforce
- Finding a long-term solution for funding social care by working for cross-party consensus and considering all options
The report also recommends that:
- The system for administering disabled facilities grants should be better co-ordinated to avoid the current confusion and length of time it takes for adaptations to be made
- Councils should signpost people to and fund services that support people employing personal assistants.