Darlington Council leaders hear concerns over cost of care

Councillor Bryony Holroyd said: “Adult social care costs are about 39.1% of the council’s budget.

“I understand that care costs have increased significantly," she told a full meeting of Darlington Borough Council.

She referred to a “fair cost of care” review under the new Health and Care Act: “The fair cost of care assessment is incredibly welcome to ensure that care providers are fairly paid. We know their costs are going up at the moment.

“However this is obviously likely to result in the costs that the council pay increasing.”

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She said the Government had provided extra funds to carry out the fair cost of care review.

"But as far as I'm aware as yet they have not provided any extra funding to cover the additional costs that we as a council will have to pay as a result of the review, with the increased prices that will entail," she added.

Cllr Bryony Holroyd. Picture: Northern Echo.

“The council budgets are extremely stretched already.

“So if the percentage of our budget going to adult social care goes up, will this be the straw that breaks Darlington Borough Council’s back?”

She asked if there were any indications of more money towards the care costs from central Government.

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Cllr Lorraine Tostevin, cabinet member for adults, said the review was still ongoing: “There will be a report circulated in due course.

“The fair cost of care data is just one aspect of the review which will be taken into consideration when the information is collated and budgets are being looked at.

“I’m sure there will be funding to follow if the situation needs such, and I’m sure it will because obviously we’re always under pressure in social care.

Cllr Lorraine Tostevin. Picture: Durham County Council.

“So we can only hope that the outcomes are positive. More information will follow as soon as the report is actually pulled together.”

The new Health and Care Act reviews payments to care providers under a “fair cost of care” programme, with a plan to be submitted to central Government by a mid-October deadline.

The meeting also heard reference to the health and social care levy, which was due to come into effect next April to replace a national insurance rise. Both were scrapped by Kwasi Kwarteng in his recent "mini-budget".

Cllr Nick Wallis asked about whether the council had sought assurances about the cost of adult social care.

Cllr Nick Wallis. Picture: Stuart Boulton.

Cllr Tostevin said: “Yes, I know that the social care levy has been removed but that doesn’t mean to say that money isn’t going to be available for health and social care.

“A considerable amount of Government funding will still be available for health and social care. That money will come in as it was previously.

“It is imperative that we work very closely with our partners to make sure the money does come into social care as quickly as possible, in terms of being able to get people out of hospital and back into their own homes and rehabilitated in that situation.

“So yes, there’s definitely money coming through. Yes, I’ll work as hard as possible to make sure the money comes through to social care.

“Let’s just hope that we get as much money as we can to support the people in Darlington to have the best care they can in their own homes.”

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