The Government’s proposed adult social care Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) will be unworkable without full, sustainable funding and meaningful local government involvement, the LGA has warned.
The Government has allocated £500 million for the first FPA in England in 2028, drawn from an existing £4 billion package that includes income from council tax rises. However, with 1.6 million adult social care workers potentially in scope, the LGA argues this funding is insufficient and risks increasing pressure on already overstretched services.
In its submission to the consultation on the adult social care FPA, the LGA is calling for full central government funding to cover all costs – implementation, legal liabilities and administrative burdens – and for direct local government representation on the Adult Social Care Negotiating Body.
Cllr Pete Marland, Chair of the LGA’s Local Government Resources Committee, said: “Improving pay in adult social care is a vital step towards securing long-term sustainability for the sector and its workforce. However, the current funding proposal is not likely to be sufficient to cover the full cost of an FPA and councils cannot be expected to fork out for the additional costs associated with implementation.
“Local government has a critical role in adult social care for local people, but is proposed to have minimal engagement in the development of an FPA. It needs to be part of decision-making to avoid a scenario where the introduction of an FPA jeopardises the supply of care and the sustainability of council finances.”