A leading social care organisation has called on the Government to ring-fence funding for adult social care amid concerns that the sector may see further cuts to funding.
The National Care Forum, whose members collectively deliver social care services for over 200,000 people, submitted a representation to the Treasury calling for the sectors funding to be protected.
Jeremy Hunt, while he was chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, said that the social care sector would need an additional investment of £7bn simply as a starting point for further reforms.
Now, the National Care Forum (NCF) has published an analysis of council data revealing that the Government paid at least £2.88 billion less than the actual cost of delivering care to people in their own homes, and in care homes for those aged over 65.
Professor Vic Rayner OBE, CEO of the NCF said: ‘As the Chancellor prepares his spring budget statement, we ask that he ensures there is funding, adjusted for inflation, to meet the 3-year pledges in the People at the Heart of Care white paper in full.
”The government must also commit to a fully funded, 10-year national workforce plan for adult social care which improves pay, terms and conditions for the sector.’
Professor Rayner further called on the Government to move a way from the ‘short-term emergency funding’ focussed on improving hospital discharge and towards a long-term funding strategy for the sector.
He continued: ‘It is imperative that the government delivers and ringfences funding for adult social care providers that is realistic to the actual cost of delivering that care’
The Government has been contacted for comment
