Social work Dept approve care measures
Written by author on October 27, 2015
Social work bosses will today seek approval for steps to tackle a looming crisis in home care services for elderly and vulnerable adults in Dumfries and Galloway.
In a report to the Social Work Committee, they say the sector is running at, or very near, capacity and new ways of working need to be developed.
Around 80% of home care locally is provided by independent firms who’re already said to be struggling to recruit and retain staff. They warn it will be impossible for them to meet the new “national living wage” of £7.20 an hour next April – unless the council ups its pay scale.
The committee is being asked to agree, in principle, to increase financial support to allow providers to meet the new hourly rate.
