[New] Homecare Association Announces the New

ices the experience of the workforce and providers ability to comply with the legal requirements placed on them

“Low fee rates from councils and the NHS lead directly to homecare workers receiving poor pay and terms and conditions of employment It’s hardly surprising there is a shortage of homecare workers as fuel prices remain high and many are struggling to pay their household bills

It hour) a wage equivalent to NHS Band 3 with 2+ years experience (£11 85 per hour) the London Living Wage (£11 95 per hour) and a competitive labour market wage rate (£13 64 per hour) of between £26 79 and £31 55 per hour Many providers are already paying above the national minimum wage some as high as £15-17 per hour, but this is only possible with hourly fee rates to match Homecare Association’s CEO Dr Jane Townson said:

Too many local authorities and the NHS continue to commission homecare at fee rates far below the true cost of delivering care Persistently underestimating providers costs risks diminishing the availability of serv-

Without adequate investment in homecare by central and local government providers will be unable to maintain and grow the workforce to meet rising demand Over half a million older and disabled people are already sitting on council waiting lists, unable to access the support and care they need At least 13,500 people are stuck in hospital ready for discharge, of which 1 in 4 are waiting for homecare Delays in discharging people back home are contributing to lengthening ambulance response times and waiting lists for NHS treatment of over 7 million which affects all who need medical help

Whilst the significant investment in social care made in the Autumn Statement was welcome it falls short of what is needed to develop strong sustainable homecare services fit to meet current and future needs “We call on the government to recognise the value of homecare and the vital role it plays in enabling people to live well at home With adequate funds for home-based and community support we could help to extend healthy life expectancy reduce inequalities take pressure off the NHS and reduce costs for the health and care system