VALERIE VAZ MP CONDEMNS FAILURE TO ADDRESS SOCIAL CARE CONCERNS

“It is disappointing that Walsall MBC have failed to provide an adequate increase in funding to address the breakdown in local social care. The Joint CQC/Ofsted report on 27 March 2019 made it clear that action is required to address “significant areas of weakness in the local area’s practice”. Local services need financial support from the Council to meet the needs of the community.

Councils across the country have faced a reduction of nearly £16 billion from central Government since 2010. Adult social care has lost £7 billion. Walsall MBC last year cut the Community Alarm which helped vulnerable adults feel safe living independently. Many constituents are still struggling to find alternate providers.

The impact of cuts has also been felt in children’s social care. Children and young people with special educational needs and disability account for nearly three-quarters of exclusions. This is contributing to a rising trend of children who are missing from education entirely. These services need significant investment and radical improvement to combat the effects of nine years of austerity.

What is needed is proper investment in social care to provide training and development for staff, return those with learning disabilities to the community and to increase the Carers Allowance. At the local elections the Opposition committed to professionalising social care and ending the zero-hours contracts which undermine the security and stability of those working in care.

I have seen a marked increase in the number of constituents attending my surgery with concerns resulting from under-investment in local care services.  Walsall MBC must provide funding and support to revive local social care.”