Poor commissioning of social and residential care by Cornwall Council for a number of years has led to a shortage of people and organisations able to provide the range and quality of care needed.
I am delighted that Cornwall Cllr Jim Mc Kenna has grasped the nettle of increasing capacity in the Duchy and that the new Chief Executive of Cornwall Council shares my view that her number one priority is integrating and improving our health and care services.
The 'Better Care' funding the government is providing for care and the local plans for joining up care and NHS services will, in time, make a real difference. While it is up to Cornwall Councillors to decide, I support a 2% increase in council tax, so long as every penny is spent wisely on social care, including funding the role out of Living Well across Cornwall.
We need more people to consider a career in care too. There are new national standards and certification for people working in care. New regulations designed to drive up the quality of care is also in place. There are already some very good care providers locally but they need to be supported by good commissioning to grow their workforce and develop their services. The Local Enterprise Partnership has an important role to play too by working with schools, colleges and people already working in the sector to enable more training.
For too long, care has been a low wages sector so the living wage will make a difference as will Universal Credit that will enable carers, currently restricted by their benefits to work 16 hours, to work more if they choose.