The future of care home provision in Northumberland is in jeopardy, a care home body has warned.
Care North East (CNEN), which represents care home providers and care home associations across the region, has warned the industry is on the brink of collapse due to the actions of Northumberland County Council in recent years.
The organisation claims it has been trying to engage with the council so Northumberland can maintain high quality care services but has faced an uphill battle to get the authority to engage.
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In a letter to the authority, CNEN Chairman Keith Gray said the council has refused to acknowledge that the fee rates paid are "insufficient" to maintain stability, with the rate for 2022/23 set below a rate which is less than the cost of care.
Speaking to ChronicleLive, Mr Gray said: "The sector is experiencing a major crisis now. The biggest thing for us is the fact the council is not listening. If it was, it would sit down and discuss things like fees with us.
"We are given data but are given no context with it. How are care homes meant to make decisions based on that?
"We need all the data and all the facts. We need to get the right support at the right time.
"It is not just about getting more money though, it is about getting short and long term support in a sector that is struggling."
CNEN claims the challenges created by the council has already led to a number of operators either closing or leaving the area.
It previously wrote to the local authority warning about low occupancy levels, increased staffing costs, increased insurance costs and other operating costs.
Mr Gray said: "Nursing services are closing and one of the biggest providers is leaving the area by attempting to sell its care homes in Northumberland. We are aware that hospitals are struggling to find care home placements for their patient discharges."
The ongoing issue has resulted in the association lodging complaints with the local authority.
Last month, it submitted a formal complaint of misfeasance - a failure of someone in public office to discharge their obligations - with the council over the handling of the situation.
Mr Gray, who works with 12 councils, added: "I think we need the council to come round the table and discuss all the issues care home providers are having. We are not being listened to at all at the moment.
"The other councils in the area ask for meetings to discuss issues. For example, we met with other councils each week to discuss costs but at Northumberland we have not seen anyone."
A Northumberland County Council spokesman said: “Northumberland County Council places an extremely high value on the wonderful work care workers and care providers do to support some of our most vulnerable residents across the county.
“We have been in correspondence with Care North East for over 20 months to address the issues raised and are reviewing their latest communication with us.
"We have previously communicated with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, who confirmed that they found no fault in the proposed management of this case. At this stage it would not be appropriate to comment further .”
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