We believe the increase in employer National Insurance will put immense pressure on the social care sector, a sector already stretched by funding and staffing issues. We call on the government to review this decision and exempt all social care providers from these added costs.

We think the added NIC expenses would force providers to make difficult choices, leading to wage freezes, cuts in services, even closures. With providers already stretched thin, the impact of this could compromise the quality and availability of care. Councils may need to cover higher provider fees to ensure services continue, diverting resources. This could create a counterproductive cycle where public funds are funnelled into covering shortfalls instead of building a sustainable care system.