UNISON calls for funding to implement green paper reforms

Local authorities must not end up commissioning services rather
than providing them under the reforms outlined in the adult green
paper reforms, Unison’s local government conference heard
today, writes Maria Ahmed from the conference in
Glasgow.

Owen Davies, national officer for local government, told the
conference in Glasgow that the union would “vigorously oppose” the
move, which he identified as an “underlying theme” of the
proposals.

He also called for more social services funding to back the
reforms.

Davies said: “You can’t have high quality services for bargain
basement prices. If ministers really want reform, they have to fund
it.”

At the same time, Kent Council’s UNISON branch called on
local government employers and other social care providers to pay
the registration fees of social care staff.

A Kent UNISON delegate told the conference that Kent Council had
paid lawyers’ registration fees of £700 but had been
initially reluctant to pay social worker’s £30 registration
fees.

She said other workers faced “similar battles” across the
country, with many social workers paying their own registration
fees.