Care England Policy Insight (21.08.2023)

 

Black Hole in Local Authority Funding

Care England, the largest and most diverse representative body for independent providers of adult social care in England, has today responded to the BBC investigation revealing a black hole in local authority budgets continues to grow, with the average council now facing a £33m predicted deficit by 2025/26.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England said:

“The BBC’s findings while alarming, do not come as a surprise. The warning lights have been flashing for a long time. There is simply not enough money in local systems. Our Sector Pulse Check, published with the national learning disability charity Hft, found 42% of care providers reported they have had to close down part of their business or hand back contracts to local authorities due to cost pressures. This is despite the demand for care services growing. Without central government properly funding local councils, the demand will continue to far outweigh the ability of the care sector to respond. Without having the right care in the right places, vulnerable people across England will be unable to access the support they need. Care England will continue to call on Government to recognise the vital service adult social care provides, and to implement a long-term funding plan to ensure nobody is left without access to the support they need.”


Read our press release here.
To read the full BBC Report, click here
You can view the BBC’s predicted savings and deficits of each Local Authority on MINT.

Care England and SCIE Workforce Survey

Recently, our  Supporting the Workforce Survey  with The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has launched.

SCIE and Care England are working together to understand the approaches you are taking to reduce staff turnover and improve staff well-being. We have put together a brief survey asking for your views and approaches to staff retention, onboarding and supporting staff well-being. The survey should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete. 

SCIE look to use the anonymous data to help inform the development of their new tool that aims to support the skills knowledge and well-being of frontline staff. Those who are willing to provide contact details at the end of this survey (this is optional) will be offered the option of early access to this tool for your organisation. 

The deadline for responses is 27th August.

You can view the survey by clicking on the following link: Supporting the Workforce Survey (dotdigital-pages.com)

Free personal protective equipment (PPE) scheme 

Today, the Department of Health and Social (DHSC) Care updated the Free personal protective equipment (PPE) scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to support the government’s COVID-19 Response, focusing on the challenging period of global inflation and cost of living pressures.

The scheme extends until the 31st of March 2024 or until the DHSC stocks for COVID-19 supply are depleted. The continued provision of free PPE for COVID-19 will aim to protect frontline healthcare staff, the elderly and the vulnerable while simultaneously reducing pressure on the NHS.

The DHSC recommends providers only order PPE based on current demands. Order limits will continue to apply, and order volumes will be monitored. The latest update shows the new ‘Estimated stock-out dates by PPE category,’ estimating when DHSC expects to run out of specific types of PPE.

To read the full update, please click here.

The RCN says the UK government has ‘stumbled at the first hurdle’ in fulfilling student recruitment promises set out in its NHS workforce plan in England.

Recently, the RCN have reported that new data from UCAS shows that acceptances onto nursing courses are down 13% across the UK. This follows an overall decline in students applying to study nursing. The decline in acceptances on to nursing courses in each of the UK nations varies. In England, acceptances are down 13% from last year; in Northern Ireland they’re down 6%; Scotland has seen a 17% decline; and in Wales acceptances are down by 11%.

The figures have lead the RCN to call into question the credibility of the NHS workforce plan in England released last month. According to the Health Foundation, the plan, which made commitments to increasing the nursing workforce in England, requires nursing and midwifery training intakes to increase by about 32,000 by 2031-32. 

To read more on this, click here

School leavers urged to consider NHS careers

It has been reported by the Health Foundation that the NHS is beginning a new drive to help school leavers explore the vast range of health careers it offers. As A-Level, T-Level and BTEC results are announced, students are being encouraged to consider one of the more than 350 roles in the NHS. 

School leavers are being urged to search NHS Health Careers  so they can browse the routes and roles available to them. Using a range of social media campaigns, support and advice from existing staff and students, the NHS will highlight the opportunities available. 

From now until 17 October, places are also available through UCAS Clearing, presenting an opportunity for school leavers rethinking their next steps. In England, 16,740  people have already accepted places on nursing and midwifery courses.

To learn more about this initiative, click here

Tenders and contract opportunities for adult social care

The link below lists recent tender and contract opportunities for adult social care providers to consider.  The latest opportunities include:

Click here to see tender and contract opportunities.

Care England re-issues gas and electricity tender for care providers

Care providers with energy contracts expiring before 2026, who wish to secure the lowest  possible energy price available at their renewal date and to benefit from support and solutions not available to individual organisations on their own, should register their interest here and complete the expression of interest link. 

 
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