Hi Sheila,
I would like to ask where you see the future of care going.
It appears to be we see more regulations and expectations every month. However financially local authorities tell us they need to save money or they cannot afford services at the prices quoted. I fear for the future of the small care company as with the changes of law in regards to pensions and minimum wage and no increase to fees paid can only result in the closure of many small company.
How do you feel this will impact and do you believe CQC will step in?
Hoping to hear back from you,
Jim Ballinger
I think that most people know that the number of services needed to provide care will continue to rise.
The challenge currently is how the care is to be paid for.
The Government’s austerity programme has had a dramatic impact on so many care providers.
For some the announcement about the National Living Wage has been the final straw even though almost all providers recognise that they would like to pay their staff more but there just isn’t the money available to fund such a dramatic increase.
We are now awaiting an announcement from the Government about money in general as the Chancellor of the Exchequer announces the outcome of his 2015 spending review.
The Adult Social Care sector (public, not for profit and private) has lobbied together and individually for the Chancellor to take into account the impact of the austerity programme imposed on Local Councils and the dramatic effect this continues to have on adult social care providers. It has been stressed that the National Living Wage is likely to be a step too far.
The item reported in the news yesterday that NHS beds are already blocked by patients who cannot be discharged because of a lack of resources in the community is likely to increase pressure on the Chancellor.
The Chancellor is expected to make an announcement before the end of November and I will write a blog for the QCS website once the announcement is made.
Best wishes.
Sheila