Domiciliary Home Care Support

Lord Laming Excerpts

Wednesday 25th April 2018 Lords Chamber

[Lord O'Shaughnessy]

I thank the noble Baroness for the opportunity to provide that reassurance for people using and benefiting from the care provided by Allied Healthcare. I want to reassure them that the Care Act 2014, passed by the coalition Government, gives local authorities responsibility for continuity of care if a business were to fail. Of course, we are not in that position with Allied Healthcare, because it still has to go through the CVA process. I can reassure people that the LGA has said that councils have “robust”—its word—plans in place to ensure continuity of care if that is required. I put that on record for those who may be worried about it.

We know that extra funding is needed in the sector. Over three years, through a number of means including extra money through the precept and direct funding to local authorities, the Government have increased by about £9 billion the funding available for social care, which we know is required. I also point out that, if you look at domiciliary care provider numbers, you will see that there are 50% more than there were eight years ago. We know that markets have entrants and that providers are exiting, but we have more providers in the market and more packages being delivered than ever before. Ultimately, the backstop is that local authorities have that responsibility to provide continuity of care.

[Lord Laming (CB)]

My Lords, does the Minister understand the importance of this Question? Imagine being a very vulnerable person living in a residential home with no alternative to go to or being dependent on a home help for the basics of daily living. Now imagine living under the shadow that the company that provides that service is going to go out of business at any time. Nothing could be more anxiety-provoking for these residents. The Care Quality Commission telling the local authority that there is a problem here is of no comfort. I hope that he will take this Question rather more seriously.

[Lord O'Shaughnessy]

I have huge respect for the noble Lord and his expertise in this area. I take this issue very seriously, which is why I used the opportunity in answering the noble Baroness to provide the reassurance that is in law. Local authorities need to step in to provide continuity of care with notice from the CQC, which now has a new responsibility to monitor the financial sustainability of providers and to make sure that that care is provided, whether it is delivered in-house or through contracts with other providers. That reassurance did not exist before it was introduced in the 2014 Act. It ought to provide a degree of reassurance among vulnerable people, who I accept will be anxious. That responsibility is in law.