SOCIAL care providers from across North Yorkshire will meet with a senior inspector from their regulator today.

The Independent Care Group's AGM will be held this morning, and Andrea Sutcliffe, chief inspector of adult social care with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), is expected to be asked how the sector can raise its standards while dealing with financial cuts.

According to the CQC's most recent report on the state of social care, 79 per cent of services across England were 'Good' or 'Outstanding', but 21 per cent 'Require Improvement' or were 'Inadequate'.

Mike Padgham, chair of the ICG, said members were keen to improve standards, but wanted to know how that was possible in the current economic climate.

He said: "All providers are keen to improve standards and get those CQC figures up towards 100 per cent good or outstanding, but we are having to do that during a crisis in the sector. Some £5bn has been cut from council budgets since 2010 and 1.2m people are now living without the care they need. Now care homes are closing and homecare providers are unable to deliver care in people’s own homes.

"We are delighted that Andrea Sutcliffe has agreed to attend the AGM and to speak to our members. She will find members who are keen to move forward and improve. She has also been quoted as saying a lack of money is no excuse. That may be so but with funding falling and it getting harder and harder to recruit staff, it certainly plays a part."

According to the ICG, almost a thousand adult social care workers left their roles each day in 2015/16, with many claiming financial and stress issues as a factor.

Mr Padgham said: "It might not all be about money and yes, we all do have to work together to save social care and improve standards.

"But unless providers receive a fair price for the care they provide, it is hard to see how we will stem the tide of workers and indeed providers leaving the sector and achieve what everyone wants, which is a raising of standards."

The meeting takes place at the Marriott Hotel in Tadcaster Road from 10am.