In response to the government announcement of a support package to protect the social care sector this winter. Vic Rayner OBE, CEO of the National Care Forum – leading association of not for profit care and support organisations said:
“The additional £300m funding for the care workforce is extremely welcome. The crisis impacting on both recruitment and retention within care has been growing at an alarming rate, and this funding will be essential to enable providers to take action. It is imperative that the funding gets straight to the front line in order that each and every care workers feel the benefit of this immediately.
“In addition, the recognition of the additional steps needed to ensure that the booster programme reaches the most vulnerable members of society and the care workforce are to be welcomed. The ambitions to turbo charge the programme for wider society must not risk limiting access to boosters for staff and residents, and so renewed focus on boosters in care are very positive.”
However, there are concerns about the implications of reintroducing restrictions around visiting. The numbers of visitors coming into care homes has only just been relaxed, and to immediately bring back limitations both for those visiting and for residents being out and about with family and community is a significant worry.
Rayner continues:
“New guidance issued by the government must take very seriously the potential restrictions on individuals living within care homes. It must not disproportionately limit access to family and friends, both within and outside of the home, whilst the rest of society continues to be encouraged to party and mingle without consequence.”
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Note to Editors:
- The National Care Forum brings together 159 of the UK’s leading social care organisations, representing large numbers of care providers, offering thousands of services across the country, which are not for profit and always at the heart of community provision. Collectively, these organisations deliver more than £2 billion of social care support to more than 202,000 people in 8,200 settings. The NCF membership body collectively employs more than 115,000 colleagues.
- More information is available on the National Care Forum at www.nationalcareforum.org.uk. @NCFCareForum @vicrayner @NCF_Liz
- For enquiries, please contact Edna Petzen, petzen@nationalcareforum.org.uk
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