Councils told to improve ‘unsustainable’ home care commissioning

Councils are putting the human rights of elderly residents at risk by excessively cutting the wages of home carers, regulators have said.
Home care commissioning practices are currently ‘unsustainable’ and rates paid to staff often don’t cover the costs of delivering care, according to the Equality and Human Right Commission (EHRC).

While recognising that councils face ‘severe financial pressures’, the EHRC report said very low pay – together with highly pressurised working conditions and a lack of support – was likely to exacerbate high staff turnover and ultimately lead to neglect.

Councils were told to increase transparency surrounding care worker wages and ensure care employees were paid at least the National Minimum Wage.

EHRC commissioner, Sarah Veale, said: ‘Low status, low pay and poor working conditions are leading to high turnover of staff and putting older people’s human rights at risk.

‘We recognise the extreme financial pressure local authorities are under. However, some authorities have taken innovative action in partnership with providers and older people to improve how they deliver care, without significant increases in expenditure.’

Chair of the Local Government Association’s community wellbeing board, Cllr Katie Hall, said: ‘Helping people maintain their independence and dignity in old age is one of the most important things councils do.

‘As the report acknowledges, the social care system is under enormous strain with unprecedented cuts to council funding making it increasingly difficult to meet the escalating demand for care which is being caused by our aging population.’

Leonard Cheshire Disability yesterday rounded on the home care commissioning practices of local authorities and warned that two thirds of councils are commissioning unsuitable 15-minute care visits.