Care Providers to Consider Action Over Unsustainable Fee Levels

Social care providers across York and North Yorkshire—whether members of the Independent Care Group (ICG) or not—are being urged to attend one of two emergency meetings that could shape the future of care in the region.

The ICG is calling on providers to give a clear mandate on how to respond to the unsustainable fee levels for some providers being offered by commissioners—fees that many say are making quality care increasingly unviable.

The two meetings will take place on Tuesday 10th June at 6.30pm at Skipton Town Hall and on Thursday 12th June at 6.00pm at St Lawrence Community Hall in York. Providers are urged to attend whichever session suits them best.

Mike Padgham, Chair of the Independent Care Group, said:

"This is the most serious situation we have faced in years. Providers are being left with no choice but to consider options such as handing contracts back to commissioners, including the Integrated Care Board, and even withdrawing services in certain circumstances. We can’t carry on like this."

He continued: "This is a once-only opportunity for care providers—whether they’re ICG members or not—to have their say and shape the next steps. These decisions will affect the future of care in our region. Please be there."

For more information, please contact the ICG at info@indcaregroup.plus.com or call 07956 484754 and book through the ICG website www.independentcaregroup.co.uk

BOOK YOUR PLACE

Book for Skipton meeting on Tuesday 10 July at Skipton Town Hall

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/make-your-voice-count-tickets-1375957378559?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR4n3z2yqma6WY5bKr5rDB2ReoVk7WolsM3WnpARC8_G7-klwbjhyamxYUDo8g_aem_1V7SfvakxtSxzh6Nj-1LZg&sfnsn=scwspmo

Book for York Meeting on Thursday 12 July - 6.00pm at St Lawrence Community Hall in York

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/make-your-voice-count-tickets-1375971290169?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR6MVwbBlRaR0YBuo0IvOwnsAWORun0Nh8w5bIafO8WQU-GeFFEGQO27vg2uFg_aem_VLi3rXQcFgSKXVBTS42Jvw&sfnsn=scwspmo

NYC fee offer Survey - THE RESULTS

Thank you to everyone who submitted their response to the recent iCG survey about the North Yorkshire Council fee uplifts – over 140 of you!

Please find below a link to the results from the survey.

https://www.independentcaregroup.co.uk/nyc-fee-negotiation-results

We have presented these results to NYC which they are reviewing and have agreed to continue negotiations, conditional on providers submitting more detailed evidence and data to back up the points highlighted in the survey – hard facts that will allow for better analysis by iCG and NYC.

Whilst NYC are under pressure to demonstrate value for money (vfm), iCG also needs to be able to evidence the costs of providing care in detail. We need your help with that and will asking you to help us with some additional details of cost breakdown.

In the meantime, NYC has agreed in principle to pay without prejudice the uplifts as in their initial proposal.  This does not mean the offer has been accepted when the market is clearly signalling it is not acceptable. It is a measure to help providers with their cost pressures in the short term.

DATA COLLECTION

To help you prepare and collate the more detailed information required, we will shortly be sending out some data collection documents which you need to complete and return to us, so we can present your case in the next round of discussions. Please keep an eye out tor these documents (we will send emails but they will also be available on the iCG website)

VIEW THE OFFER

• The full offer from NYC is available to view and download by clicking the link: https://www.independentcaregroup.co.uk/nyc-fee-negotiations 

ICG welcomes House of Lords vote on ENICs

The ICG is hoping a House of Lords amendment, which would make social care providers exempt from the planned rise in Employer’s National Insurance Contributions, will be accepted by the Government.

Yesterday the House of Lords supported a Liberal Democrat amendment to the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill which would exempt social care providers, NHS GP practices, NHS commissioned dentists, NHS commissioned pharmacists, charitable providers of health and care, and those providing hospice care from the increase.

The ICG hopes the Government will have a rethink and accept the amendment.

ICG Chair Mike Padgham said: “The House of Lords has sent a clear message to the Government that it believes the health and social care sector should be exempt from the rise in Employer’s National Insurance Contributions.

“We hope that it prompts the Government to have a rethink and change the policy before it comes in this April.

“Many social care providers will face real financial difficulty if the increases go ahead and we hope there is a change of heart.”

The vote came on the same day that social care providers held a Day of Action calling on the Government to support the social care sector. The day of action, organised by Providers Unite, a coalition of social care representatives, included a march in Westminster.

It called on the Government to review the impact the proposed increase in Employer’s National Insurance Contributions and rise in the National Living Wage will have on social care. Campaigners want the Government to make social care providers, including hospices, exempt from the National Insurance increase or make more funding available to help social care providers meet rising costs.