Dr Rhidian Hughes, Chief Executive of the Voluntary Organisations Diability Group (VODG):
‘Across the country, third sector providers are committed to delivering high quality services but facing operating costs rising above commissioned fee rates. This is further exacerbated by the very welcome but currently unfunded national living wage increase, coupled with much higher overall operating costs brought on by inflationary pressures, and high staff vacancies due to low rates of pay. Repeatedly central government has refused to provide the funding and certainty councils and charities urgently need.
‘Despite the challenges, it is essential that councils work with disabled people, families and the third sector to co-design support that meets people’s needs. At no point should budget pressures be used as an excuse to negatively impact choices about how people want to draw on social care, nor should councils distance themselves from full consideration of the impact of commissioning decisions on people’s quality of life.
‘VODG is concerned about some commissioning behaviours, and that includes moving disabled people from independent living to larger services including residential care when these decisions are not made with or in the interests of disabled people.
‘Councils are clearly facing significant financial challenges. VODG has written to all adult and children’s portfolio holders in England to encourage them to work with the third sector and commission differently to address some of the issues we all face. We continue to make representations to central government about the impact of failing to properly invest in social care.
‘Central and local government must do better than to drive a race to the bottom.’