Wolverhampton Council promises funding for adult social care amid cost of living crisis

The council has already invested nearly £5 million more in the sector this year and will increase payments to social care providers in 2023.

Council chiefs are also lobbying Government for reforms to social care, and for longer term financial settlements so that it can better plan for the future and commit higher levels of funding to care providers.

Councillor Linda Leach, Wolverhampton Council's cabinet member for adult services, said: "We know how important the adult social care sector is, not only in supporting the NHS but in helping some of our most vulnerable residents to live longer, more independent and more fulfilling lives.

"And, as a council, we recognise there are serious difficulties facing the social care sector nationally, with rising demand, high inflation and the cost of living crisis causing a perfect storm for providers.

"Unfortunately, much-need reforms to adult social care have been delayed again. We know that the sector has been calling for reform for over 20 years, and we know that it won’t be fixed overnight – but what social care really needs is long-term funding to allow us to plan properly, and to invest in quality care at the right time in the right place for our most vulnerable residents."

She added: "As a council, we are doing all we can to support our city's social care providers. Already this year we have increased the rates we pay providers by up to 10 per cent, putting an extra £4.5m into adult social care and bringing our total annual investment to nearly £80m in 2022-23, which is by far the biggest budget in the council.

"And we went further in September when we distributed an extra £400,000 to help providers cope with higher inflation and the rising cost of living."

To find out more about the Wolverhampton Cares commitment, launched to support providers and unpaid carers through the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond, please visit www.wolverhamptoncares.co.uk.