Moray Overspends On Home Care

Moray Council has announced a potential overspend in its home-care budget, because of an increased demand in the service. The council is projecting an overspend of £162,000 on the home-care service this year, but councillors at a health and social care services committee meeting yesterday stated that this showed that it was an important section of council work.

Care workers are expected to have their workload increased by 7,800 hours for this financial year, while the number of external care providers has reduced. The reason for more care hours was that people were living longer and needed the help as they entered old age.

Charles McKerron, who is manager of the service, said that 24 extra care workers were going through training and would be available at the end of this year to help ease the pressure.

They will be added to the 53 new carers who have also joined this year.

Councillor Allan Wright, Heldon and Laich, said: “I continue to be proud of the home carers in this service.

“I would hope that part of the development action is taken within the department to ensure that our priority lies on care of the elderly.

“Despite the overspend, this is not a service where I would be looking for any penny pinching.”

Council officers will draw up an action plan about the overspend and how the care service can be developed to be presented to the committee on a future date.