Social care providers issue Living Wage warning to Welsh Government

A letter warning of the serious threat to care and support from an underfunded National Living Wage has been sent to the First Minister and Health Minister in the Welsh Government.

The letter, written on behalf of providers and commissioners to underline concerns around the future viability of social care provision in Wales, was issued earlier this week by the Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru and the National Provider Forum (Wales).

The signatories are warning that the additional costs of the new National Living Wage could lead to a ‘catastrophic’ failure across care services, unless urgent action is taken to address continued underfunding.

Vice President of the Association of Directors for Social Services Cymru (ADSSC), Dave Street, said: “Without increased funding combined with innovative solutions, the only way councils in Wales will be able to cope with increased costs from the National Living Wage is by commissioning fewer services. Fewer commissioned services will cause considerable distress for people who use care services and their families, lead to providers leaving the sector, increase pressure on NHS services and provide uncertain employment prospects for a significant number of trained and committed care workers.”

Director of Cymorth Cymru, Auriol Miller, said: “The threats posed by the National Living Wage are not just confined to the care sector. Learning disability providers are facing a very bleak future without support, but all providers offering 24-hour support services are at significant risk. Our members have warned that unless urgent action is taken, some services are at risk of collapse this year, leaving many vulnerable people and their families with nowhere to turn.”

“ADSSC and the NPF have put forward a number of potential solutions. Principally, Welsh Government is urged to increase funding to reflect the importance of the sector to the people of Wales and to the wider health and care system. In addition, more should be done to assist local authorities in applying procurement practices consistently and proportionally, with uniform standards and quality thresholds for commissioning. These suggested solutions will be essential in ensuring a stable, quality system of care provision remains in Wales.”

Membership of the National Provider Forum includes:

  • Care Forum Wales
  • United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA)
  • Cymorth Cymru
  • Learning Disability Wales
  • Carers Trust Wales
  • Age Cymru
  • Welsh Alliance for Mental Health