REAL THREAT TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE CARE HOME SECTOR – THE ‘CINDERELLA’ SERVICE OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE – SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO INCREASE FUNDING BY 6-8 PER CENT
CARE HOME SECTOR CALLS FOR URGENT DEBATE ON THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL CARE
Care home operators say more needs to be done to recognise the crucial roles that care homes play in supporting vulnerable people and to ensure a sustainable future for care home services and the people that work in them.
The message will be delivered at the National Care Home Conference in Glasgow today (FRI NOV 16) by Dr Donald Macaskill, Chief Executive of Scottish Care, the representative body for the country’s independent social care services. The 450-delegate event, which is sponsored by the Clydesdale & Yorkshire Bank, will include an address by Cabinet Secretary for Health & Sport Jeane Freeman.
Unveiling a new report ‘Care homes: then, now and the uncertain future’ – Dr Macaskill said that research with front line staff has highlighted just how much people still don’t understand about the reality of care home provision in 2018.
He said:
“This report demonstrates the dramatic and unappreciated changes which the care home sector has undergone over the last few years. It challenges myth and stereotype and calls for the development of a mature understanding of the invaluable role which care homes play in our health and social care system in Scotland. It argues forcibly for the need for us to challenge the societal and popular negativity which ignores the fact of the brilliant care and support given by tens of thousands of staff in care homes throughout Scotland today.”
Highlighting that a lack of understanding of the skilled and important work that takes place in care homes is putting people off working in them, Dr Macaskill will tell delegates:
“The most immediate challenge care homes face is getting enough of the right people to see caring as something they want to dedicate their life to.”
What’s more, the continued under-resourcing of care homes means not only are care staff not being sufficiently rewarded but that services themselves are at very real risk of closure.
Dr Macaskill said a 6-8% Scottish Government increase in social care funding is needed would provide the system our citizens deserve:
“I cannot remember a period of such real threat to the sustainability of the care home sector. Things are very fragile indeed. Care homes are truly the Cinderella service of health and social care.
“Yet again Scottish Care is calling on our politicians to put down their party political megaphones and start talking to one another, to providers, to citizens, about how we are going to fund social care.”
ENDS
