City's adult social care on 'brink of collapse'

Care workers are leaving to work as agency staff for higher wages, the council was told

A city's adult social care is on the “brink of collapse” amid a staffing exodus, a union has warned.

Unison area organiser Steve Mills told Bristol City Council a series of factors had combined to create a “perfect storm”, including Covid, Brexit and inadequate sick pay.

He said agency jobs with higher wages, but less responsibility, had also contributed to the problem.

The council's head of human resources [HR], James Brereton, agreed that "some of the care sector is under strain" and explained the council was currently "retendering a 10-year framework for adult social care in the city".

“While we accept that Bristol City Council is no longer the employer and most services have been transferred to the private sector, the council is the main funder in most cases," said Mr Mills.

He added: “Many care providers are running a 30-40% vacancy rate, which is then filled by costly agency staff.

“The drain on staff has been caused by several reasons and is culminating in the perfect storm.”

The council supported more than 5,500 adults in the last financial year.

Bristol City Council's head of HR said adult social care is a problem for councils across the country

Mr Mills told a recent meeting of the HR committee that many care employees worked alongside agency workers who were paid better, but did not normally have to undertake personal care or give medication.

He explained many had resigned from service to return shortly after as an agency worker "without the pressures and stressors and with a better pay packet".

“I’m seriously concerned that if we’re not careful, the care industry within this city and wider is on the brink of collapse."

He added: “Most care providers do not pay sick pay, leaving these workers vulnerable."

'Clearly not acceptable'

The Unison rep said he wanted to get sick pay and the real living wage "in baseline standards for everybody who contracts with us or who we directly fund".

Committee chairman councillor Kye Dudd, Labour, said: “The sick pay issue is clearly not acceptable.

“We are ultimately responsible for those employees even if they are contracted out."

“The best idea obviously would be to reduce the amount of agency workers because there are additional costs," added Green councillor Paula O’Rourke.

Mr Brereton added: “It is a condition of our accreditation as a living wage employer to ensure contractors are paying the foundation living wage."

He said the 10-year framework for adult social care in the city was being worded carefully "so as to not alienate potentially good value and high-quality providers".

Councillors asked officers to bring a report back to the next meeting.