A COUNCILLOR has accused Bradford Council of pricing out private care providers after funding of homecare services was highlighted in a new report published today.

Bradford Council is paying £12.55 in average hourly prices for homecare services across the district, the report states.

This puts it below the average price of £13.23 per hour shelled out by councils across Yorkshire and the Humber.

Bradford pays the fourth lowest hourly rate, out of 14 councils in the region. North East Lincolnshire was the lowest rate with £11.65.

Meanwhile, the average hourly rates in Calderdale and Kirklees are £13.17 and £13.30 respectively.

The figures were acquired through a Freedom of Information request from United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA), the professional organisation for domiciliary care providers.

Bradford Council's use of 15-minute home care appointments has also proved controversial over the past two years.

Claims that home carers are being given just 15 minutes to wash, cook and care for elderly residents and needy patients in the Bradford district.

Cllr Jeanette Sunderland (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley), said Bradford Council rates of pay are £7.19-£7.30 for trainees, but it paid private firms so little for homecare that their private sector workers got as little as £7.10 an hour, sometimes less.

She said: "I had a couple of care workers come to me to say they were being paid £6.50 per hour but not any travel time.

"Regardless of what happens elsewhere in the region, Bradford Council's purchasing power is forcing local care companies to pay their workers less.

"The council dominates the market. It has kept wages down in the private sector to less than that paid to trainees working for the Council.

"Private companies could be pulling out of home care in Bradford by April.

"That is a real possibility and it could see a collapse of the market, putting vulnerable people at risk."

Jean Walker, co-chairman of the Bradford Older People's Partnership, said: "The whole home care system needs to be looked at.

"It's a bigger problem that just Bradford Council.

"I do have concerns over what's happening. I find most of the people who work are caring people.

"It's not just what you pay but the quality of care you receive.

"I think it's a reasonable figure. I don't think we do any worse in Bradford than anywhere else.

"Their hands are tied because of economics.

"The 15 minutes for carers is more of a concern."

Councillor Amir Hussain, Bradford Council's executive member for health and social care, said it had to make savings after cuts in funding from central Government.

He said: "We are doing everything we possibly can as a local authority to help the situation.

"The buck stops with central government. It comes from cuts from them.

"We need more funds to help the situation in Bradford.

"We will be doing everything in our power to work together with the providers and carers to improve the situation.

"We have introduced an electronic mapping system to minimise travel time for home carers.

"Home care funding is a ticking timebomb. It's a situation that needs a national solution.

"We do value the role of frontline home care workers."