Some social care services could soon be privatised in a bid to save Bristol City Council money as part of an upcoming review. The review will explore if the council should continue directly providing some services or get them provided by a company instead.
Opposition Labour councillors warned that this would make the services “less accountable” and lead to “cutting corners”, particularly as some social care companies make hefty profits. The review will focus on residential care, day services and community meals, run by the council.
An update on the budget was given to councillors on the strategy and resources policy committee, ahead of its approval by the full council later this month. The review will take place over the next two years, and no decisions have been taken yet.
Labour Councillor Tim Rippington said: “Essentially, this is looking at more privatisation. We should have learned by now that this often leads to less accountability and poorer services. It’s a really worrying one, from our group’s point of view.”
While these proposals would affect adult social care, a recent auditor’s report found that the 15 largest companies providing children’s social care make an average of 23 per cent profit. Paying for care for elderly and disabled adults, and children who can’t live with their parents, takes up a massive and growing chunk of the council’s day-to-day budget.
Cllr Rippington added: “If we see that as a way of making money, it will also inevitably be a way of our standards lowering. To make that profit and provide the same service, you have to cut corners, and that’s what we’re worried about.”
The council leader admitted that Bristol “tends to pay over the odds” for companies to provide public services. But he added that the review would aim to “get a fairer deal”.
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Green Cllr Tony Dyer, leader of the council said: “Many of us have long held concerns about the use of private provision. It’s something that’s happened for quite a long time. Part of the work being done here is to look at how we can ensure that the services are provided, in a way that doesn’t affect the levels of service being provided.
“This doesn’t just apply to adult services or children’s services, but elsewhere where we partner with organisations, who often take away a higher level of profit than we think is suitable. Part of this area is to look at how we can get a fairer deal for the services that are being provided.
“In Bristol, we have tended to pay over the odds for services, when compared to other cities. It’s time we started seeing what we can do to address that amount of money we spend, and look where we can have a better relationship with organisations — or ensure that we work with the ones that are willing to recognise that the council has serious financial considerations.”
The Greens have previously called on Labour councillors to lobby the government on removing the profit from children’s care. The Welsh Government is committed to do so, but the new Labour government in Westminster has not.