Cozens pleads for collective effort

Association of Directors of Social Services president Andrew Cozens
told delegates that social services departments were committed to
developing a fair rate of pay for care home providers.

He called on owners and social services departments to work more
closely to shape services based on quality, relevance and
suitability.

“Successful commissioning is required to make sure we have enough
capacity of the right kind, and that we are offering choice and
quality. But to achieve that we must have a fair rate for
care.”

Public, private and client resources needed to be brought together
to help fund that. But he said: “There still needs to be commercial
discussions and for rates to take account of national minimum
standards.”