Social Care News

English councils paying below recommended minimum for personal homecare

The UK Homecare Association (UKHCA) says most councils in England are paying below the recommended minimum price for homecare services of £15.19 per hour.

A Freedom of Information request by the UKHCA - which represents independent, voluntary, statutory and not-for-profit homecare providers - revealed that in only four out of 101 cases was the minimum price for homecare being met.

The UKHCA calculated the minimum it said should be paid for quality homecare services to take into account the minimum wage (in February 2014) and the time needed to travel between homecare clients.

Homecare services including help with washing, dressing and eating are paid for by councils for older people and younger disabled adults in their own homes if they qualify for help after a means-tested assessment.

Colin Angel, of the UK Homecare Association, told BBC News that the fees being paid were too low. He said: "Many councils exploit their dominant purchasing power in local markets to reduce prices."

And he urged councils to work with providers to ensure a sustainable care sector was maintained.

Mr Angel added in a statement on the UKHCA website: "The price of an hour of homecare is a vital question for local and central government, statutory regulators, trades unions and the public.

"It is essential that a viable, regulated homecare sector is available to support the care of older and disabled people who choose to remain at home.

"The prices councils pay for care must cover the costs of the workforce including - as a minimum - full compliance with the prevailing national minimum wage, including the time spent travelling between service users' homes."

Read more on the fees paid for homecare

• BBC News: Councils in England 'pay too little for homecare'
• UKHCA's briefing document: the minimum price for homecare