UNISON urges an end to the ‘ ongoing crisis in social care ’

UNISON delegates in Liverpool today spoke of the continuing crisis in social care, whose workers are “almost universally underpaid, largely undervalued and often exposed to exploitation”. They vowed to continue the union’s campaign on behalf of the sector, its clients, and the people who work tirelessly to keep it afloat. Although social care has been relatively protected compared to other council services, care spending per adult resident has fallen substantially since 2009-10. The union believes that the sector faces a “perfect storm” in which the impact of years of chronic underfunding has been worsened by increasing demand and the knock-on impact of cuts to other key public services, such as housing and welfare. Nearly 90 people die each die while waiting for social care. There are 8,000 fewer care beds than three years ago. And a record 1.4 million older people do not receive the level of care they need. Despite the cuts, the union believes that were it not for the ongoing dedication and commitment of the social care workforce, “the sector would have imploded completely”. James Anthony (pictured) of the NEC told delegates: “Even before austerity, social care was on the brink – privatisation, underfunding, fragmentation, way down the political agenda, always the poor cousin of the NHS.” And a decade of austerity has since “ravaged” the sector, he added, not least because hedge funds put profit before people and care companies have collapsed. Althou...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article News 2019 National Delegate Conference homecare workers social care Stand up for social work Source Type: news