Surrey carer comments on report highlighting shortfall in home care funding

Lausa Biragi has worked in the adult care system in the UK for nearly two decades, and nine years ago founded You & I Care, which operates in Essex, Surrey and Hertfordshire.

She has spoken out following the release of this report by the Homecare Association.

"As someone who has worked in the care sector for nearly 20 years, I’m deeply frustrated by the ongoing neglect of home care funding and the challenges our sector faces. The recent findings that home care funding in England is around £2 billion short of what’s required to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in our society is alarming, but sadly, it’s not surprising.

“At You & I Care, we believe in providing equitable care to all, whether people are self-funded or centrally funded. This is something we are truly passionate about. Every individual deserves high-quality care, regardless of how they fund it, and we are committed to ensuring that everyone receives the same level of care and attention. But without adequate funding and recognition, making this a reality is becoming increasingly difficult."

Lausa continued that without better and fair funding the system is becoming unsustainable.

“We provide vital support across Surrey, Essex and Hertfordshire, supporting people to remain in their homes and live independent lives," she continued. "But the system is becoming unsustainable. The care we offer is essential - not just for the well-being of individuals, but for preventing the burden on an overstretched NHS. If we didn’t exist, many of our service users would be forced into early residential care or to rely on the NHS, adding further strain to already overloaded services. Yet despite our crucial role, home care remains underfunded and too often overlooked.

“As the report states, the market is deeply fragmented, with many providers unable to deliver the services that people need and the rates paid by councils and the NHS can often be far below what’s necessary to cover the costs of delivering quality care. It is simply unacceptable that many councils aren’t able to pay enough to meet the legal wage costs for our staff, let alone cover other operational costs. The result for us is carers leaving the industry, providers left struggling and the people who rely on us also being left in a precarious situation.

“I urge the government to recognise that investing in home care is not just a moral obligation - it’s an economic necessity. We need proper funding, fair pay for staff and a clear commitment to long-term solutions that support both the care providers and the people who rely on us. It's time for the government, the media and the public to recognise the true value of home care. Without it, we are setting up a future where care for the most vulnerable will only become harder to access, and ultimately, much more expensive."

Find out more about You & I Care visit youandicare.co.uk.