Following consolation with residential, nursing and home care providers the authority is recommending the funding boost via the Government’s Better Care Fund. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool City Council is to set aside an extra £7m to improve the pay of staff in the private care home sector across the city.

Following consolation with residential, nursing and home care providers the authority is recommending the funding boost via the Government’s Better Care Fund and the council’s cabinet will be asked to approve the proposal on June 22.

Companies in the sector in Liverpool provide help and support for around 11,000 people at home and another 3,500 living in care homes. The move will see an increase of 70 pence in the hourly rate for home care – up from £13.62 to £14.32.

Residential care for older people will go up from £407.16 to £426.01 per week and residential care for people with dementia will increase from £503.94 to £527.87.

Nursing care for older people will increase from £445.16 to £465.95 per week, and nursing care for those with dementia will go up from £506.73 to £530.75.

There will also be rises for companies who provide staff in supported living and day services, and those who are employed by people on direct payments.

Cabinet member for adult social care, Cllr Paul Brant, said: “Staff in the care sector do a tremendous job keeping some of our most vulnerable residents safe. Despite the financial challenges facing the city council, we are determined to do what we can to make sure staff get a decent pay rise.

“In calculating the revised rate we have looked closely at the amount paid by other local authorities in the region as well as taking into account the rising costs in the sector.”

If approved, the new rate will be backdated to 1 April 2018.