ARC launches new local authority fee rate map

The Association for Real Change (ARC England) Learning Disability Research Unit today launches its Local Authority Fee Rate Map, which shows that in many cases fee rates do not cover the cost of care.

Over 80% of local authorities provided their fee rate data in response to ARC's Freedom of Information request and the map shows a wide variation in fee rates between areas in England and Wales. It can be seen that, in many local authorities, fee rates have fallen behind provider costs and that annual uplifts have not kept pace with inflationary pressures.

In order to pay the Real Living Wage of £10.90 (£11.95 in London), supported living and domiciliary care providers need to receive a fee rate of £22.69. The data obtained shows that:

• 76 out of 78 local authorities who responded (97%) paid less than £22.69 per hour to supported living services.

• 104 out of 114 responding local authorities (91%) paid less than £22.69 per hour to domiciliary care providers.

• Inflation and costof-living pressures have combined with the requirement that providers meet annual National Minimum Wage (NMW) or National Living Wage increases to mean some services are now financially unsustainable. ARC is concerned that this could lead to people with a learning disability and autistic people no longer being supported to live well within their communities.

• In supported living services, where staff wage payments represent approximately 85% of providers' costs, the 2019-20 NMW increase by 5% to £8.21 resulted in a rise in operating costs of 4.13%.

• By 2022-23 the NMW increase to £9.50 resulted in an operating cost rise of 8.23%, this in a sector already hit by severe recruitment and

Appointments

Athena iVolve iVolve (formerly Envivo) has officially launched its new larger family of social care providers in addition to the acquisition of learning disability care provider, Cavendish Care. Tim Davies will serve as ivolve’s Group Chief Executive Officer.

Athena Care Homes has welcomed Project Manager Richard Shaw to the business. Richard joined Athena in January and will lead the estates team as the business looks to continue its growth.

Grove Care Home Grove Care Home in Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, has announced the appointment of new care home manager, William Narvaez.

Independent Care Group retention problems, due in part to low pay and competition from rival sectors like retail and hospitality, which can afford to pay higher wages.

ARC’s Fee Rate Interactive Map has been designed to be a tool for collaboration between commissioners and providers in forthcoming conversations about fee rates and inflationary uplifts for 2023-24. ARC England would therefore like to invite all local authorities to use the interactive map as a benchmarking tool when setting fee rates and uplifts with providers. Visit the CMM website version of this article to view the Local Authority Fee Rate Interactive Map.

John Pattinson has been announced as the new Chief Executive of the Independent Care Group (ICG) with immediate effect. Since December 2021, John has been the ICG’s Operations Director and prior to that spent many years with the NHS.

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Michelle Gray has been appointed as Care Home Manager and brings an extensive background of more than 30 years’ experience in social care and nursing, having worked in the private sector and the NHS, in both clinical and management roles.

Parklands

Parklands Care Home in Alloa, Aberdeenshire, part of the Meallmore Ltd Group, has announced the appointment of new Care Home Manager, Shelley Watters.