Spent the day with a domiciliary care service near Reading
Increasingly, there is more and more concern in the sector about provider failure- care firms going bust or retreating from whole sections of the market (esp local authority provision)
Increasingly, there is more and more concern in the sector about provider failure- care firms going bust or retreating from whole sections of the market (esp local authority provision)
At the moment, care company costs are spiralling especially: PPE ⬆️by 25%
Revenues ⬇️ 20%
Labour also drying up- vast majority from eastern Europe and elsewhere
Councils on the financial edge
It's a perfect storm
I'm told that a few providers have already left the market.
Revenues ⬇️ 20%
Labour also drying up- vast majority from eastern Europe and elsewhere
Councils on the financial edge
It's a perfect storm
I'm told that a few providers have already left the market.
Median fee for homecare for councils only £16.96 per hour
Is calculated that in order to pay NLW, meet other requirements, make an operating profit and reinvestment, care providers say minimum would be £20.69 per hour
Money councils provide was falling even before this
Is calculated that in order to pay NLW, meet other requirements, make an operating profit and reinvestment, care providers say minimum would be £20.69 per hour
Money councils provide was falling even before this
So lots of care providers were already retreating from state provision
Most vulnerable were ergo already losing out vs those who can pay
Covid is adding £3.95 per hour in extra costs to home care (staffing, PPE)
Care homes are losing residents rapidly
Financial nightmare
Most vulnerable were ergo already losing out vs those who can pay
Covid is adding £3.95 per hour in extra costs to home care (staffing, PPE)
Care homes are losing residents rapidly
Financial nightmare
Btw it's a financial nightmare as it is with carers on min wage (£8.60 ph)
50% are on 0-hour contracts.
Carers say that min wage should be £12 per h
Next time a politician praises carers, worth asking them if they'd commit to that.
50% are on 0-hour contracts.
Carers say that min wage should be £12 per h
Next time a politician praises carers, worth asking them if they'd commit to that.
That means councils would have to pay domiciliary providers £28.50 an hour. A massively bigger outlay than they can possibly afford right now.
That's the sort of money they'd have to commit to to sort this sector out.
That sort of money can only come from central government.
That's the sort of money they'd have to commit to to sort this sector out.
That sort of money can only come from central government.
And think this is all mega money making massive companies?
Think again
80% of dom care is small businesses <50 employees.
Decline in revenues and rise in costs increases insolvency risks for scores of them.
If these companies go bust some of our most vulnerable will suffer.
Think again
80% of dom care is small businesses <50 employees.
Decline in revenues and rise in costs increases insolvency risks for scores of them.
If these companies go bust some of our most vulnerable will suffer.
Lack of labour is a huge issue.
Loads of people off sick right now. I spoke to one care manager living in fear that just one of his employees gets covid. Many of them live together in shared accommodation he provides. If one gets it, they're all out of action.
Loads of people off sick right now. I spoke to one care manager living in fear that just one of his employees gets covid. Many of them live together in shared accommodation he provides. If one gets it, they're all out of action.
That said, many carers can't take time off even if they do get sick. There's almost no sick pay and SSR is paltry.
For those companies staying in business, as I reported on last week, PPE is a huge issue, many carers are being asked to go into people's homes with almost nothing
For those companies staying in business, as I reported on last week, PPE is a huge issue, many carers are being asked to go into people's homes with almost nothing
I'm told a few providers in London have told local authorities that if they can't guarantee adequate PPE, they might have to withdraw their provision.
This could be catastrophic.
This could be catastrophic.
So acute and chronic problems have come together. As one manager in the sector told me today: "I believe that without a really substantial investment and change in the system, there will be a problem with the ability to supply the care."
This is a problem which has been ignored, the dirty little secret of our care infrastructure, for a long time, under governments of all colours.
Make no mistake- parts of it could collapse. Decades of neglect, a problem too difficult to think about, is coming back to haunt us.
Make no mistake- parts of it could collapse. Decades of neglect, a problem too difficult to think about, is coming back to haunt us.
Loads more on this on tonight's @BBCNewsnight. Tune in BBC2, 1045pm.
