By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
There are plans to pump funds into Nottinghamshire’s adult social care after the service almost reached “breaking point” during the pandemic, the leading Conservative group at County Hall said.
County Council Leader Ben Bradley said that adult social care services have had a “hell of a time”.
The administration presented its budget plans on February 25, which were passed 34 votes to 26.
The Labour Group put forward its amended budget, which committed to accelerating increased minimum pay for care workers to £9.75, up from the current rate of £8.91.
The Conservatives said they are investing £355,000 from to make eight social care and community care officer posts permanent.
They will also make 52 social care posts permanent to increase capacity for hospital discharge.
Funding will also go towards domestic abuse services and funding will be used to prevent mental health deterioration.
Funding was also secured for a service to reduce waiting times for people waiting for an autism diagnosis.
Cllr Bradley said: “We will be supporting people to live independently for longer, we are working to ensure we can provide appropriate housing for the delivery of care services, we will work with our partners in the ICS, we will use Government funding to integrate our services more effectively and to tackle the backlog caused by the pandemic.
“What I want residents to know today, your council services will not be standing still, your council tax will not be managing decline, we are going to tackle these challenges head-on and our residents are at the heart of it.”
Councillor Boyd Elliott (Con) added: “We have done our level best to manage staff shortages and respond to public demand, drawing upon our own resources and significant extra funds from the Government.
“The emergence of the Omicron variant has seen services stretch to almost breaking point due to staff sickness and recruitment and retention difficulties.
“This resulted in a waiting list for some of our services which has never previously existed.”
Councillor Paul Henshaw (Lab), who works in the care sector, said: “One of the biggest problems we’ve got is recruitment and retention of care staff.
“We had six vacancies a few weeks ago that were advertised and pushed forward. Two people were selected, nobody turned up.
“There is a definite problem in relation to recruitment and retention because of rates of pay.
“People in the job are having to work 50, 60 and sometimes 70 hours a week to make ends meet. That’s going to get worse because of the cost of living rises.
“If we don’t address that problem we will be kicking the situation into the long grass.”
Councillor Kate Foale supported the Labour budget amendment, which was voted down.
She said: “Many of our people in Nottinghamshire are dreading the coming months and years as the cost of living skyrockets.
“Should we really be asking them to be paying four per cent tax this year? No, we should not.
“The amendment makes some practical proposals focused on social care, that’s because we all know it’s a worry across the whole country.”