UKHCA report highlights underfunding of homecare sector

The UK Homecare Association (UKHCA) has compiled a report presenting a clear picture of the underfunding of homecare services for older people at a national and regional level.

Using data obtained under freedom of information legislation, the report reveals that only 28 of the 203 councils where an average price could be established paid their independent and voluntary sector homecare providers fees at or above UKHCA's minimum price for homecare of 15.74 pounds per hour.

For a sample week, the average price for an hour of homecare for older people was 13.66 pounds per hour for the UK as a whole, 13.77 pounds for England, 14.28 pounds for Wales, 13.68 pounds for Scotland and 11.35 for Northern Ireland.

Low prices paid for homecare services are often associated with poor terms and conditions for the workforce, insufficient resources to organise the service, and low levels of training.

UKHCA policy director Colin Angel said: "Unless this underfunding is addressed, the independent and voluntary sector will continue to struggle to recruit and retain care workers with the right disposition, training and qualifications. Ultimately, the care market will become commercially unsustainable."

This comes after a Resolution Foundation report last month indicated that social care workers are losing out on 130 million pounds a year due to pay rates that fall below the minimum wage threshold.