DEVON Senior Voice welcomes the fantastic news that Devon County Council and its local NHS partners are to spend more than £300-million over the next five to seven years on improving personal-care services for elderly and vulnerable people in their own homes.

It provides an excellent example of the health and social services working jointly for the common good.

Under new contracts coming into effect this summer the authorities are setting out higher expectations for care providers including increasing the average visit time to 30 minutes in return for meeting the cost of better pay and conditions for care workers, and their training and qualifications where appropriate.

We believe that people should keep their independence, staying out of hospital and residential homes, for as long as possible, but that only works where there is decent home care in place, and all too often that has not been available, especially in rural areas.

Now under this new scheme a lead provider partner has been appointed in each of eight geographic areas across Devon who will be responsible for organising and delivering personal-care services in that area, including co-ordinating and supporting other local providers. This will provide much-needed stability and reassurance for people.

We also welcome the facts that carers will be paid at least the national living wage for all their contracted hours, including payment for travel time, and that there will be improved support arrangements and more opportunities for training with a clearer career path.

Paying and treating people properly will raise morale among the workforce, and benefit the people they serve.

Carol McCormack-Hole

Chairman, Devon Senior Voice