A report will go before Cabinet (Resources) Panel tomorrow (Wednesday 21 February, 2024) with councillors recommended to approve the proposed increase to 'ensure sufficiency and sustainability' across the adult social care market.
Nursing and residential care providers supporting under 65s, older people and older people with dementia will receive a 7.45% increase in their weekly rate if the proposals are given the green light.
The hourly rate paid to home care providers, for reablement and home based respite, to supported living services and providers of day care services will also rise by 7.45%.
The agency rate for Direct Payments for adults, carers and children will increase by 7.45%, with a 9.79% uplift proposed for employed and self employed personal assistants.
If the proposals are approved, the new fee structure will be introduced on 1 April, 2024.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: "Our city's adult social care providers have a vital role to play in supporting our most vulnerable residents, and we are determined to do all we can to support the sector.
"We know that, like other employers, adult care and support providers are continuing to face a perfect storm of rising costs and recruitment issues, and these proposed increases of between 7.45% and 9.79% for the next financial year follow on from the significant increase in rates we announced for 2023 to 2024 of between 11.85% and 20.36% as part of our Wolverhampton Cares commitment.”
To find out more about the Wolverhampton Cares commitment, launched to support providers and unpaid carers through the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond, please visit Wolverhampton Cares.
