Council asked to think again on carers’ contract
Surrey County Council should re-think its plans to change the support it gives to carers, according to a cross-party group of councillors.
Cllr Fiona White, Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Social Care, has added her voice to a council call-in procedure, where councillors can ask the Conservative Cabinet to re-think a decision it has made. The matter will now be considered by the Social Care Services Board, which meets on Friday 9th December.
Last month, the Cabinet approved a new contract for Independent Carers Support Services, which provides essential advice and one to one support to carers across the county. The new contract involved a change to the provider of the service as well as promises of a 15% increase in capacity but all delivered on a smaller budget and with an as yet undefined 'digital offer' to carers.
Cllr White said:
"I am concerned that the council's Cabinet has approved the plans but with virtually no detail or figures to back up their decision. I, and my two colleagues on the Social Care Services Board, would like to see the evidence of how the service can run and expand on a reduced budget as it is not clear to us as to how this can be achieved. We would also like to be informed as to exactly what this 'digital offer' is and whether it is a way of reducing face-to-face contact with carers.
"I hope other members of the Social Care Services Board join with me in asking the Cabinet to look again at this decision and spell out exactly how these objectives can be achieved".
Notes to Editors
The Cabinet decision of 22nd November can be found here:
The agenda for the Social Care Services Board to be held on 9th December can be found here:
https://mycouncil.surreycc.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=435&MId=5045&Ver=4
The 'call-in' procedure was also supported by Cllr Chris Townsend (Independent) and Cllr Ernest Mallet (Independent).