Dear [MP’s name],
Re: Spending Review fails to address under-funding of adult social care
We write to you as a homecare agency based in your constituency. We provide care to
older and disabled people to enable them to maintain their independence in their own
homes and employ local people as homecare workers.
We were pleased to hear the Chancellor recognise in the recent Autumn Statement that:
“The health service cannot function effectively without good social care. The truth we
need to confront is this: many local authorities are not going to be able to meet growing
social care needs unless they have new sources of funding.”
However, we are not confident that powers announced by the Chancellor for local
authorities to increase council tax by up to 2% to meet the cost of social care are
sufficient.
Even if all councils increased council tax by 2%, it would raise less than £500m next
year and the homecare sector alone will face a £753m deficit in 2016/17.
It is critical that the under-funding of homecare is addressed urgently. A report provided
to the Treasury by United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) highlighted that
74% of homecare providers trading with councils may have to reduce the amount of
publicly funded care they provide. The report estimates that this could affect 50% of all
of the people using their services.
Without these services older and disabled people may not get the help they need and
the stretched NHS faces even more pressure.
We’d like to ask you, as our MP, to raise the following points with those responsible
for social care and health services in our area, including with:
Local councils to:

confirm that they will use their powers to raise the additional ring-fenced funds
for social care through the 2% council tax precept.

confirm the additional funds raised through the council tax precept will be used to
increase the funding for front line social care services as intended (and not to
make up for any cut in the existing social care budget).
Clinical Commissioning Groups and other local health services to:

confirm that they are working to make sure social care provision is in place, and
deploying funding where appropriate, in order to allow people to leave hospital in
a timely fashion and save the NHS money.
We are concerned that increased funding for the health service will have little impact
if social care is not recognised as an equal partner of the NHS, and Government
acknowledges that homecare has a vital role to play in supporting people out of
hospital and back into their own homes.
With homecare supporting almost a million people across the UK each year to
maintain their independence in their own home, we really appreciate your support in
raising this issue with all responsible parties at a local and national level.
And finally, we would like to extend an invitation for you to visit our homecare agency
and meet our fantastic care team so that you can hear first-hand about the amazing
work they do. Please let us know when would be convenient for you.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name, job title and business address]