We are disappointed that Chancellor Rishi Sunak has failed to protect funding for lifeline social care services for seriously ill children in today’s (25 November) Spending Review statement.
The Chancellor announced that local councils would be able access welcome additional funding for social care through a £300 million social care grant and a larger, three per cent adult social care precept. This funding is additional to the £1 billion social care grant announced last year and which is being maintained.
Disappointingly, however, Rishi Sunak chose not ringfence a local authority grant specifically for children’s social care, Together for Short Lives’ key ask for the Spending Review in our #GiveMeABreak campaign. The way in which short breaks for respite for seriously ill children are funded by local authorities in England is patchy and unsustainable. This is despite compelling evidence produced by Pro Bono Economics, set out in Together for Short Lives’ and Julia’s House’s recent report. This estimates that these short breaks have a number of important benefits for the economy in addition to their positive impact on families’ physical and mental health.
Andy Fletcher, Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives said:
“I welcome the extra funding for social care that the Chancellor has allocated to local authorities. It is, however, unlikely to be enough to fill the annual £434 million gap in local government children’s social care funding in England. Adult social care is undoubtedly facing funding challenges, but I question why the Chancellor is not enabling councils to use the additional three per cent it can raise from the council tax precept for children’s social care too.”
“As a result of the pandemic, families of seriously ill children are exhausted after months of isolating at home without access to the vital services they rely on. They need a break, yet children’s social care funding in England is in crisis. I call on ministers to now use the upcoming local government finance settlement to make sure councils have the money they need to fund crucial short breaks for respite for children and families. If they do not, the taxpayer will bear the cost as these families reach breaking point.”
You can read the full suite of Spending Review documents here.
You can read our Spending Review representation to HM Treasury here
As a result of the pandemic, families of seriously ill children are exhausted after months of isolating at home without access to the vital services they rely on. They need a break, yet children’s social care funding in England is in crisis. I call on ministers to now use the upcoming local government finance settlement to make sure councils have the money they need to fund crucial short breaks for respite for children and families.
Andy Fletcher, Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives
Comments
WE TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE WORD TO WORD THE ABOVE STATEMENT FROM ANDY FLETCHER. WE ARE IN OUR OWN HOMES OR AT HOSPITAL BED SIDES AND ITS NOT AS IF WE ARE MISSING WORK AND NOT PRODUCING / SERVING SOMEONE OR SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO MAKE SOME PROFIT FOR SOMEBODY. YET THERE IS NO PROPER THOUGHT ABOUT CARERS PROVIDING A (MOSTLY FREE) SERVICE LIKE ANY OTHER BUT WE ARE NOT RECOGNISED LIKE POLICEMEN, DOCTORS, TESCO CASHIERS, M&S FOOD HALL WORKERS, ENGINEERS WORKING FOR BT - BRITISH GAS - UNITED WATER UTILITIES OR EVEN A POLITICIAN YET IF ALL THE PARENT CARERS ( INC UNPAID ) WENT ON STRIKE FOR ONE 1/2 DAY THERE WOULD BE A COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF THE NHS AS IT WOULD NOT BE ALE TO COPE WITH HAVING TO LOOK AFTER THESE PATIENTS. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN BECAUSE WE PARENTS CARE SO MUCH TO PLACE OUR LOVED ONES IN ANY KIND OF HARM / RISK .