The Isle of Wight Care Partnership, a trade body representing local care providers, has formally rejected the Isle of Wight Council’s offer of fee increases for the financial year 2023/2024.
In a response letter to the Council’s letter dated February 2023, the Partnership expressed its disappointment that the Fair Cost of Care exercise was abandoned and challenged the accuracy of the model used to come up with the proposed fee uplift.
Ian Bennett, Residential Director of the Isle of Wight Care Partnership, says:
“It is incredibly disappointing that the Council has proposed such a small increase in fees, particularly given the challenging financial position of the care home sector on the Isle of Wight. The proposed increases do not reflect the true fair cost of care and fail to consider wage increases for all staff, not just those on minimum wage.
“Underfunding the care home sector could have a negative impact on the availability of beds, particularly at a time when the NHS is facing significant pressures. Care homes are currently 96% occupied, and if we cannot attract and retain staff due to low wages, it will have a knock-on effect on the wider health and social care system.”
The Isle of Wight Care Partnership has called for further conversations with the Isle of Wight Council as part of a negotiation, urging the Council to reconsider their proposed fee uplift and engage in further dialogue to find a solution that ensures the fair cost of care for all parties involved.
The Partnership says it is committed to ensuring the highest standards of care for residents in the care home sector on the Isle of Wight and looks forward to continuing conversations with the Council on this important matter.
UPDATE @ 12:51 – An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson has today said:
“We have had no correspondence from the Isle of Wight Care Partnership in relation to the council’s proposed fee uplift for 2023/2024 since we contacted all local providers by letter, with our proposal. The letter to providers outlining the proposal also offered the opportunity for providers to attend a consultation meeting which is scheduled to take place later this week.
“Until our discussions with providers have taken place it would not be appropriate to discuss further.”
You do not get high standards of care by paying low wages – period.
You get what you pay for.
The Council is currently spending £1.3 million on replacing windows, heating and lighting at County Hall which sits half empty
The Council failed to ask for a single penny back of the £370,000 it spent on the Tour of Britain contract that was cancelled last year.
SEND Kids taxi’s – £1 million a year waste – parents can pay.
Karl love said 3 people have £1 million spent on them for their care – really, what justification for that amount.
instead of wasting the above and this is just the tip of the waste iceberg, they could make substantial cuts in these areas and direct it to care salaries to attract the best talent.
The guys and girls that do the hands on care are exceptional people, over looked and underpaid, how is a council exec worth 125k plus trinkets?
What do they do of any worth?
Would they be there for an elderly person at 3 am in the morning that needs personal care and support for a carers wage?
Time for the revolution.