By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Adult social care costs are rocketing in Cheshire East with some needs so complex it can cost about £9,000 a week for one person, councillors were told.
Jill Broomhall, director of adults and social care, said the average age of people being assessed for care need in the borough was 89.
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council’s leader said the government needs to take responsibility for social care at a time when the council is facing massive budgetary pressures and has low reserves.
Cllr Sam Corcoran (Lab) was speaking after Sutton councillor Chris O’Leary (Con) questioned the council’s “raid on reserves” to balance the books last year.
Dear Editor,
As we wait for the outcome of the Prime Ministerial contest, I’ve personally asked both candidates this question; “Cheshire East spends two thirds of the budget on Social Care. How will you support and fund social care going forward?”
By Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter
Care workers should be well paid for doing a tough and sometimes “unpleasant” job just as miners were in past years for digging coal, a Cheshire East councillor said.
Cllr Stewart Gardiner was speaking at a Cheshire East Council meeting where it was announced the authority has been awarded £982,203 to help recruit and retain care staff during the winter months.
Cheshire East Council is proposing to increase Council Tax for thousands of residents by 1.99% for the next four years.
The authority says the proposal is necessary because of increased demand for vital services.
By Ethan Davies, local democracy reporter
Eight care homes in Cheshire East are experiencing coronavirus outbreaks, councillors have been told.
The figure was revealed at CEC’s health and adults social care and communities scrutiny committee, where an “outbreak” is classed as “two or more related cases amongst staff and residents”.
Cheshire East Council has appointed a new deputy cabinet member for adult social care and health due to pressures created by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cllr Marilyn Houston, ward member for Crewe West, is to support the present portfolio lead, Cllr Laura Jeuda.
By Stephen Topping, local democracy reporter
Cheshire East Council chiefs will need to make £7.5 million in savings by the end of 2019-20 to balance the books following rising demand for its services.
The authority is currently facing a £5.5 million overspend in the “people” department responsible for social care services – including a £3.4 million overspend in its children and families department.
Thirty of the 150 residents who lost everything in the Beechmere blaze in Crewe have been found permanent new homes, council chiefs say.
The massive blaze destroyed the Beechmere residential complex on Rolls Avenue on August 8.
An NHS and social care project to reduce time patients spend waiting to be discharged from Leighton Hospital has been shortlisted for a national award.
Richmond Village retirement centre in Nantwich has been rated as ‘Outstanding’ for its domiciliary care after a visit from regulators, the Care Quality Commission.
The inspection report puts the Richmond Nantwich, which opened in 1996, among the top 3% of home care providers in England.
By Stephen Topping, local democracy reporter
Councillors have welcomed an Ofsted report which has praised Cheshire East’s children’s social care service, writes Stephen Topping.
Inspectors highlighted the way social workers knew the children they were helping and how frequently they visited them, following a visit to the local authority on October 30 and 31.
By Stephen Topping
A council-owned company could be set up to protect social care services in Crewe and Nantwich from further cuts.
Care4CE, Cheshire East Council’s provider of adult social care services, has been slashed in size over the past nine years from a workforce of 1,500 to fewer than 700 – while some services are no longer offered.
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