Stuart Anderson MP has welcomed a £2 million boost for adult social care services in the City of Wolverhampton. This will enable the Council to increase investment in adult social care capacity and better support the workforce, including on pay. It is part of the Government’s Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund: Workforce Fund, which is worth £570 million over the next two years.
The Fund has been designed to enable Local Authorities to drive tangible improvements across a range of target areas in adult social care, going beyond immediate inflationary pressures. This can include reducing waiting times; increasing workforce capacity and retention ahead of winter; and increasing fee rates paid to providers, which enables better pay for care workers. Local Authorities can decide how to focus additional the funding, in line with local circumstances and priorities.
The Government has made available up to £7.5 billion of additional funding over two years for local authorities in England to support adult social care and discharge. It includes £1.4 billion through the Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund (MSIF), announced at the Autumn Statement 2022. The additional funding has been distributed using the adult social care relative needs formula (ASC RNF) and is set to benefit millions of people who are either working in or supported by care.
Stuart has welcomed the investment, which builds on progress the Government has already made on workforce reforms set out in the Next Steps to Put People at the Heart of Care plan - backed by an initial £250 million - which will enable better recognition of social care as a profession. This includes working towards flexible, integrated career pathways between health and social care, in line with the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “I am delighted that Wolverhampton has been allocated over £2 million from this Government’s historic funding boost for adult social care. The staff who make up the paid social care workforce provide an invaluable service to the nation. This investment will help to ensure a sustainable social care workforce fit for the future as we deliver on the vision set out in the 'People at the Heart of Care' White Paper, where people can experience a rewarding career with opportunities to develop and progress and are recognised for their vital work.”
Minister for Care, Helen Whately said: “Hundreds of thousands of older people, disabled people and their carers depend day in, day out on our social care workforce. Care workers deserve a brighter spotlight to recognise and support what they do. That’s why we’re reforming social care careers and backing our brilliant care workforce with millions in extra funding. Our workforce reforms will help more people pursue rewarding careers in social care with nationally recognised qualifications. Our investment in social care means more funding to go to the front line. This matters, because support for our care workforce is the key to more care and better care. A stronger social care system, hand in hand with our NHS, will help people get the care they need, when and where they need it.”