Private care home owners agree to suspend action

Private care home owners have agreed to suspend all action
against local authorities following tripartite talks between
Scottish Care, the Scottish Executive and the Convention of
Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla).

Rita Miller, Cosla’s social work spokesperson, welcomed
the decision as a breakthrough. Action has been suspended pending
the outcome of a working group representing all three agencies
which will establish a national pricing framework for the
future.

Miller said: “This means that local negotiations should now be
able to be concluded and this must be applauded.” Throughout the
dispute which has dragged on for several weeks, Cosla and the
Scottish executive have insisted that individual councils must
agree the fees paid directly with private home owners.

Care home owners represented by Scottish Care have demanded an
increase of £50 per week for each resident, but local
authorities have so far only offered £10 following a cash
grant from the Scottish executive.