24.03.15
Salford council to form independent company to run adult social care
Salford City Council is to form a staff-owned company to deliver adult social care and protect it from future budget cuts.
A proposal for the not-for-profit company to be set up, and for the 400 staff who currently run the services to be transferred to it, was approved unanimously by the council cabinet earlier today.
Other authorities have set up similar schemes, including Blackburn with Darwen Council in 2011. PSE previously reported on a trading company set up by Buckinghamshire County Council to deliver adult social care in 2013.
Peter Connor, assistant mayor for services for adults and older people, presented the proposal to Salford cabinet.
He told the BBC: “The idea is to create a not-for-profit company owned by its staff and run for the benefit of the people it serves.
“Both staff and service users would decide what services are offered, be involved in developing innovative responses to present and future needs and have a strong voice in how the company develops.
“The company could also generate income which would reduce the need for core council funding over time while protecting services and jobs.”
Salford City Council serves approximately 800 people who have substantial or critical needs, estimated at a cost of £10.5m in the 2015-16 financial year.
Budget cuts have already taken £2m from adult social care for people with complex needs. Last month, the authority approved cuts of £31m across the council for the next year, with a further 15% reduction the following year.
It plans to cut 200 posts in 2015-16 from its 8,500 workforce and the same number again during the following financial year.
(Image: Salford Civic Centre. Source: Craig Sunter)
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