Funding for the Voluntary Sector- Submission from Crossroads Caring for Carers Wales

Findings from scheme survey March 2007

Following on from our Spring conference in Llandudno a survey was conducted with all schemes in Wales regarding their funding and contractual base. The following is an extract of the main findings.

Of the respondents the contractual base was a concern for the majority. Fewer than 1 in 5 of the schemes had 3 year funding with the majority running on annual contracts or no contract at all.

The tendering process, although patchy across Wales, is making its mark with an apparent emphasis on process. There is evidence that services for carers do not attract sufficient merit as a discrete and credible need with sitting services being grouped together in one contract with domestic cleaning and personal care services for the cared for - this precludes an organisation such as Crossroads from tendering. There is thus a concern that carers may not receive services in their own right.

There is also evidence that any some future funding may not include an element for inflation (as some authorities pass on their savings in to the voluntary sector) and this represents a cut in real terms. Full cost recovery is not possible for some but pressure on contractual compliance remains.

Some authorities looking for services for carers to be "spot purchased” which makes for severe difficulties in the management of services.

Delays in the contracting process make for impossible pressures on some local schemes - e.g., despite discussions extending over many weeks and months, some schemes were awaiting confirmation of funding on the 28^th March for services to commence on 1^st April.

Conclusions

The uncertain base of funding - both in the length of contracts and the funds allocated - leads to disproportionate time and effort by Staff and Trustees being expended on what is, in effect, planning for uncertainty.

The requirements of Crossroads as an employer, and its regulatory context, are no less or different to that of any social care provider.

Yet there appears to be a view within certain quarters that it is a voluntary service (whereas the reality is that all professional staff are salaried, the only voluntary element is Trustee time and input) which is then compounded by some authorities who seem to think that savings and cuts in real terms can be magically absorbed.

There still is a need to ensure that carers receive services and consideration in their own right and not simply as an adjunct to the cared for.

The third sector fully appreciates the gravity of pressure on the public purse and the concerns recently voiced by the WLGA regarding local allocations. However, we are also concerned that some of the services provided for carers are not seen as having as valid a statutory base as other services and will be vulnerable to savagery and short term”ism”.

This would be a public denial of the extent of savings realised to public services by the services and dedication of carers, the full extent of whose collective input would cripple both health and social care services overnight if it were withdrawn.

Crossroads Wales understands the current restrictions placed on the Assembly for three year funding processes, this does place additional problems to overarching, all Wales bodies such as Crossroads Wales team. Strategies from the Assembly, such as Fulfilled Lives Supportive Communities are often 10 year plans; however we can only plan for three years at a time, whilst being key players in the implementation of these 10 year strategies. We would appreciate this issue being addressed in future funding plans.