Council to increase care support costs (From York Press)

Council to increase care support costs

9:19am Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in News

COUNCIL bosses in York have agreed to increase the amount they pay towards supporting people in their care despite being told it will pile pressure on its budgets.

A further one per cent increase in City of York Council’s costs to care homes for looking after residents who are the authority’s responsibility has been approved – the second rise this year – and will cost the council an extra £61,000 in 2012/13.

Annual care costs had already risen by £122,000 after a one per cent increase in fees in April, which the Independent Care Group – a body representing care providers – said was not enough.

Once both this year’s rises are taken into account, the council’s additional care bill for the whole of 2013/14 will be £244,000, assuming levels do not rise again.

The council is now looking at holding an exercise to work out the true cost of care and how much it needs to pay.