In a meeting with officers from the Isle of Wight Council, the Isle of Wight Care Partnership – a group representing local care providers – discussed the Council’s newly proposed fee uplift for care services. Despite the Council’s proposal to increase their initial fee offer from 5% to 6.5%, the Partnership maintains that this figure falls substantially short of what the sector needs. The Care Partnership remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring fair and adequate funding for care providers. The proposed 6.5% increase does not align with the real cost increases care providers are facing, particularly in light of ongoing challenges such as the National Living Wage rise, other operational cost increases and the need to support investment in the quality and capacity of services. Ian Bennett, Residential Director of the Isle of Wight Care Partnership, expressed disappointment, stating:
“The care sector on the Isle of Wight is grappling with severe financial pressures. While we acknowledge the Council’s efforts to provide an additional uplift, the proposed rate remains inadequate to meet the escalating costs of providing quality care.”
The Partnership is acutely aware of the potential repercussions of continued underfunding, including the risk to the availability of care beds and the broader impact on the Island’s health and social care system. In light of these concerns, the Care Partnership is calling for members of the Isle of Wight Council to revisit the uplift proposal and work collaboratively towards a solution that reflects the true cost of care and supports the sector’s sustainability. As the Isle of Wight Care Partnership prepares to outline its concerns to the Cabinet Member for Social Care, Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Health and Social Care and Mr. Bob Seely MP, it extends its gratitude to its members for their active engagement and contributions to this critical issue. The Isle of Wight Care Partnership remains dedicated to advocating for the interests of care providers and ensuring the residents of the Isle receive the quality of care they deserve. The organisation looks forward to constructive discussions with the Council, aiming to secure a fair and sustainable future for the care sector on the Island.
Council are short sighted,so what care and nursing homes will do is have to increase what paying residents pay, therefore reducing their means quicker until then the council have (state) to pay . Council want to save money and improve services then stop all the red tape and hoops ,assesment, reviews, planning etc etc and reduce it’s own staff, let people sort themselves. In news recently where someone ticked wrong box on form and had to pay back £20,000 of carers allowance, the disabled person cared for is now in care home costing probably around £75,000 /£100,000 per year to tax payers now, possibly more.
And the gap between actual cost of care and the profit from it is getting ever wider. And as every council has a statutory duty of care they (we) end up paying whatever the care providers decide to charge. Clever, huh? As for the carers allowance scandal, in some instances the new allowance after the budget put them 30p a week over the ‘income’ threshold, which hadn’t changed but instead of just claiming back the 6 month of 30p’s the gov’t called the entire claim fraudulent and took them to court for thousands. The government won on technicalities and pushed those concerned into debt and poverty. All because someone was ill and council care is no longer available…because the money is being siphoned off for profit.
Profits for providers on the island are being squeezed and squeezed, the gap isn’t rising. This means low or no investment into facilities and no ability for expansion or growth, precisely at the time we need it as demographics start ageing more and more.
If you think the LA providing the service would be better and/or cheaper I have a bridge to sell you
Having a quick look at just one, liabilities are negative, whereas shareholder funds stand at a healthy £5m. This has increased since inception. If they sold up tomorrow the profit margin would be huge. Explain please how a necessary service should generate a profit and not be ploughed back into said necessary service?
‘The Isle of Wight Care Partnership remains dedicated to advocating for the interests of care providers…’
That one statement tells you what you need to know. The care providers are, by and large, for-profit organisations. And the uplift is like chucking pennies down a wishing well which only leads to directors profit fund. Without that profit layer of cost, all money would go to providing the care that is needed.
Why do you smell fishy
I think you fundamentally don’t understand how business works. Profit motivates companies to improve and expand, and to work more efficiently. Provision from the independent sector is better (and cheaper) than that provided by the LA because the money isn’t guaranteed and precisely because if providers do well they may increase profits.
The idea that taking the ‘profit layer of cost’ out would improve care is nonsense.
I’m a business owner! All business models are profit driven and efficiency is only ever thought about in those terms. What does that do to necessary services (which cannot be avoided, not a choice)? It creates haves and have nots based on ability to pay in a society that implemented a welfare state to counteract that very system. Back before private enterprise got its greedy mitts on this, as well as other fundamental services, council care was safe, reliable and plentiful for all, and those who could afford more paid extra for private. Now we see a lack of care across the board because the money pot is empty, having been given over to privatisation. Ditto NHS. That is morally wrong.
sadly a lot more could be done for patients at lower cost and more efficiently, the island needs to realise with an ageing population costs are goi g to rise, tge minimum wage uplift also distorts the cost vase rightly or wrongly.
Nothing to do with minimum wage, actual carer’s deserve a lot more as without them people would be dieing, what’s wrong is over paid uneeded staff, manager’s, Director’s and CEOs who do little to nothing. All the health and safety tick boxes, insurance and running costs don’t help either. Why does wholesale food for instance cost more than going to Supermarket or heating fuel/electric cost more than Joe public etc etc etc..