Community-led hubs 'scaled up' to support social care

A network of 12 community-led care hubs are being established across Somerset to support the social care sector.

The Somerset Cares Alliance is a collective of organisations across the county helping to match up self-employed carers with people who need them.

But while Somerset Council said this is a "positive shift towards community empowerment", the Homecare Association has voiced safeguarding concerns with this model, as it uses micro-providers who are not all regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

However Somerset Cares Alliance co-founder David Patterson said each hub does its own checks before a carer can register.

He said that to become a carer for the charity Wivey Cares, part of the Somerset Cares Alliance, someone is put through a "thorough" interview and some basic courses. DBS, safeguarding and insurance checks are also carried out.

He said he set up the charity because of what he called a "national crisis" in social care - more people needing homecare, but not enough being available, particularly in rural areas.

He said the scheme has become so successful in Wiveliscombe that around 90 per cent of people's care is now found with the help of Wivey Cares.

Their coordinator identifies several potential carers to someone who needs care,and the client then meets them to decide if they want to employ them.

The alliance said it does not supervise, direct, or organise the micro-providers' work, as doing so would cross into Care Quality Commission (CQC)-regulated activity.

Likewise, self-employed micro-providers are legally exempt from registering with the CQC, provided they work wholly under the control and direction of the person receiving care.

Patterson said: "The carers cover a wide range of work, from companionship, shopping, to making meals. Any care that's needed, we can usually provide the service for them."

A spokesperson from Somerset Council said: "By funding and supporting local residents to form their own networks, we are helping communities build resilience, combat isolation, and keep care funding within the local Somerset economy."

"We see a community approach to care as being one of the ways we are working towards our vision to build a fairer, resilient, and more flourishing Somerset that cares for the most vulnerable."

But concerns about this model of care have been raised by Dr Jane Townsend, CEO of the Homecare Association, which represents 2,100 CQC registered homecare providers across the country.

"Our concern is not about limiting choice. It is about informed choice. If citizens understand the system, the safeguards and the risks, and still choose an unregulated arrangement, that is their decision," she said.

"But many people assume all homecare is subject to proper checks, training, supervision and accountability. It is not.

"Unregulated care can appear cheaper, but the hidden cost may be weaker protection for people relying on care and support, and fewer rights for careworkers."

A Somerset Council spokesperson said: "The emergence of community groups is not a symptom of council failure, but rather a deliberate, positive shift towards community empowerment.

"We recognise that often the help provided by people directly from the local community is the most effective."

The authority said any serious concerns should be escalated to its statutory safeguarding teams for formal investigation.

A government spokesperson said: "This government is addressing the adult social care sector's urgent need for support with over £4.6 billion in additional funding.

"As recommended by Baroness Casey, we will establish a new National Safeguarding Board and urgently review whether the current rules do enough to keep vulnerable people safe."

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