Lack of clarity over promised social care funding labelled ‘an insult to the sector’
The slash in funding is being described as a "betrayal" by the government, ITV News Correspondent Sarah Corker reports
Charities have described the government's lack of clarity around social care funding as an "insult" after it appeared a promised £500 million budget had been slashed in half.
On Tuesday, the Department of Health published plans for a "new care workforce pathway" and "funding for hundreds of thousands of training places", backed by £250 million funding.
This is half of what was promised in a government white paper in December 2021, where "at least £500 million over the next three years" was pledged to transform the social care workforce.
But a Department of Health source has told ITV News "it is not true" to say the funding for adult social care has been halved, rather the rest of it "has not yet been allocated".
The concerns about the budget come as the care sector suffers rising costs and difficulty recruiting staff, a recent report warned.
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Responding to the announcement on Tuesday, The Care Workers' Charity said the social care workforce "will not be fooled by this cut and reshuffle" of a previously announced budget.
"They will be extremely upset to find out that they are expected to make even more sacrifices so that the government can appear still committed to social care reform. The announcement proves yet again that it is not.
"When the government promised 'at least £500 million' for the social care workforce in 2021, this was nowhere near enough to address the crisis facing the sector in the first place, but it was at least a glimmer of hope and commitment to the workforce.
"It is completely unacceptable to reduce the amount allocated to wellbeing, recognising and training care workers at a time when over 10% of jobs in social care are unfilled, and people are reported to be leaving the sector to find better paid work in supermarkets and other sectors and when unmet need is on the rise."
Meanwhile the Independent Care Group, which represents providers in York and North Yorkshire, said they were similarly no longer convinced by government pledges.
Chair Mike Padgham described the funding announcement as "yet another cruel and unfair cut to the funding we need to provide help and support to older and vulnerable people".
He added: "We need every penny of funding and cannot afford to have £250 million removed at a stroke like this.
"The Government insists that all promised funding will stay within the sector but we cannot believe a word they tell us anymore."
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A number of health think tanks, including the King's Fund and Nuffield Trust, also denounced the government's communications on Tuesday.
The latter described it as "effectively yet another ill-judged raid on a social care system already on the brink".
Nuffield Trust deputy director of policy, Natasha Curry, said it would be "seen as a betrayal" by those working in the sector and those needing care, while the announcement on the social care workforce funding was a "particularly low blow amid a cost of living and recruitment and retention crisis affecting social care".
She accused the Government of a "smoke and mirrors attempt to sow confusion bundling these cuts alongside pre-announced funding on the fair cost of care and better care fund".
Speaking to broadcasters, Social Care Minister Helen Whately insisted the government is "not taking any money away from social care".
Instead, Ms Whately said the package announced “focuses on recognising care with the status it deserves”.
She said: “Care depends completely on the people who do the caring – that’s over a million care staff working in care homes and agencies, and countless relatives, friends and volunteers, acting out of the kindness of their hearts.
“That’s why this package of reforms focuses on recognising care with the status it deserves, while also focusing on the better use of technology, the power of data and digital care records, and extra funding for councils – aiming to make a care system we can be proud of.”
A government source added: "The prime minister has recently reiterated the importance of reforming the adult social care workforce with a focus on professional development, skills and career progression, and our £250 million investment in the workforce remains the biggest part of our reform package."
On the funding that hasn't yet been allocated, the government insisted it is "considering how best to use this funding, including further investment in the workforce, and will target this remaining funding on measures that will have the most impact."
Nick Iwanejko, Manager of Cotleigh Residential home in Sheffield, told ITV News that care homes are working in 'very tough' conditions to find new staff to hire
A report released in March from Care England and the Hft care provider for people with learning disabilities warned that adult social care was “on the precipice” when it came to costs.
Of those who took part, 42% had to close down part of their organisation or hand back contracts to local authorities due to financial pressures.
The low level of pay for care staff was considered the biggest barrier to recruitment and retention, the report said.
In its announcement on Tuesday, the government said it will launch an Older People’s Housing Taskforce in partnership with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities “to decide how best to provide a greater range of suitable housing depending on the support people need”.
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