Proposed uplift in adult social care aims to support the sector

11 April 2024

North Northamptonshire Council will pay more money to contracted suppliers of social care services for vulnerable adults in the area, if the Executive approves a report next week.

The proposal will recommend increasing payments to contracted providers as part of the annual uplift in a bid to bolster support for the sector and address the shortage of care workers, which is part of a national issue.

For 2024/25 the uplift is for across the full range of community-based provision which includes residential and nursing care, home care, day care, Shared Lives and supported living.

By targeting annual uplifts, the Council supports the ability of contracted care providers to develop strategies to tackle workforce challenges, including offering rates of pay that are competitive with other local sectors.

Alongside targeting inflationary uplifts, the Council continues to work in partnership with its contracted providers to make social care an attractive career proposition within North Northamptonshire.

Additionally, the authority has offered fully funded training to care staff working within the independent care sector and continued to develop a social care workforce strategy.

Providing the best care possible for adults in North Northants is a priority for the council but it’s essential that we do what we can to manage the costs without compromising the service.

The sector has faced a significant challenge in recent months and so it’s important that we do what we can to offer our support.Cllr Gill Mercer, the Council’s Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing

While the challenges in the sector – largely as a result of the pandemic and competition for staff from other industries – is part of a national picture it’s essential that we do what we can to address the issue locally.Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council

Annual fee uplifts take into consideration market pressures and market sustainability. This includes the care market’s ability to maintain adequate capacity and supply, whilst adhering to regulatory and quality requirements.

The uplifts also take into consideration central government’s annual position on setting the National Living Wage. In 2024/25 the government has confirmed that the Living Wage will rise by 9.8% from £10.42 per hour in 2023/24 to £11.44 in 2024/25 for those aged 23 years and over.