Yorkshire Day campaign: Care providers urged to ‘join up and speak up’ as group strives for better deal

Professional care providers and unpaid carers urged to ‘speak up’ by joining group campaigning for better deal for social care. Submitted picture

A regional care group has launched a Yorkshire Day campaign to encourage all care providers in the region to “join up and speak up” for a better deal for the care of vulnerable people.

The Yorkshire and The Humber Care Association Alliance (YHCAA) is urging all care providers in the region to join their local association so that the voice of social care can be heard more loudly.

Mike Padgham, who chairs one of the alliance’s members, the Independent Care Group (ICG), said: “Today, on Yorkshire Day, we are calling out to all the owners of care and nursing homes and providers of homecare and other care provision across Yorkshire and The Humber to join up and campaign for social care.

“Together we are stronger and with greater numbers can send a message to decision makers that social care needs urgent reform to support providers, get care to those who can’t get it, better reward the amazing workforce and support unpaid carers.”

Join alliance for the future good of social care

The alliance comprises Barnsley Independent Care Home Providers Association, Bradford Care Association, Hull and East Riding Care Association, The Independent Care Group (North Yorkshire and York), Kirklees Care Association, Leeds Care Association, Sheffield Care Association and Wakefield (Independent Sector Liaison Group).

Each represents dozens of individual care providers, small, medium and large, from the private and not-for-profit sectors, including unpaid carers.

Together, they are looking after adults with physical, sensory or learning disabilities, people with mental ill-health, and older people, across a range of services.

Mr Padgham and fellow YHCAA member James Creegan – CEO and chair of Kirklees Care Association – are both on the board of the national Care Association Alliance, an umbrella body for care associations across the country.

Says Mr Creegan: “Yorkshire Day seemed the perfect moment to call upon all care providers in our region to stand together for the improvement of care.

How to find out more about the alliance

“To those who have not joined up with their local association we urge them to do so for the future good of social care not just here in Yorkshire and The Humber, but up and down the country where the sector doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.

“Together we can deliver the message to Whitehall that social care, the people who receive care and those who deliver it, deserve better.”

The local alliance’s overall aim includes to provide leadership, help, support and advice to its membership, share best practice and improve the quality of life of those living with a care need.

To find out more about the alliance, go to the Yorkshire and Humber Care Alliance website.