COUNCIL bosses have backed a report calling for widespread changes to social care.

In a new report for the Centre for Policy Studies, the Rt Hon Damian Green MP – who as First Secretary of State commissioned the Government’s social care green paper – puts forward a proposal to secure the future of social care.

‘Fixing the Care Crisis’ argues that the current system is financially and politically unsustainable, opaque, unfair, and actively discourages local councils from investing in social care and housing for older people.

This report proposes adopting a “state pension model” by introducing a new Universal Care Entitlement, which guarantees everyone a decent standard of care.

People could pay for more expensive care on top of the Universal Care Entitlement by purchasing a Care Supplement.

Funding would shift from councils to Whitehall, easing pressure on local budgets and encouraging the approval of more retirement housing and care homes.

In Blackburn with Darwen last year, the council's health and adult social care department was projected to overspend by about £485,000 due to increased demand and the increased cost of care packages.

From the beginning of this month, the cost of care in the borough has risen.

Executive member for health and adult social care, Cllr Brian Taylor, approved proposals to increase fees in line with inflation and fee setting in neighbouring authorities.

He said additional income generated through these increased charges will contribute to the savings target required by portfolios as part of the budget setting process

The council considers an increase to all fees and charges as part of its budget process each year.

Responding to the report, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the Local Government Association’s community wellbeing board, said: “This report is another important contribution to the debate around how we tackle the crisis in adult social care and we look forward to seeing the Government’s green paper deliver similarly concrete ideas.

“The LGA took action and launched its own cross-party adult social care green paper to start the desperately-needed debate around the future of care.

“It is now incumbent upon national politicians of all colours to cooperate and be part of a wider movement for change in the national interest.

“Social care and wider council services provide vital support every day to support people in the lives they want to live.

"But with people living longer and more people with disabilities needing support, increases in costs and decreases in funding, the current system of adult social care is at breaking point, and faces a £3.5 billion funding gap by 2025 just to maintain existing levels of provision."