AN attempt to improve wages and conditions for care workers and their clients in the county was voted down by the majority of councillors at Full Council.

Neyland county councillor Paul Miller’s Notice of Motion calling on Pembrokeshire County Council to adopt the Time to Care Charter which would ensure carers are paid the Living Wage, clients have continuity of carers as well as more time per visit.

Cllr Miller said research had bee carried out with service users and workers in Pembrokeshire to support the Charter which focussed on providing the best care as well as wages and impacts on those involved.

He said the research found that continuity was not maintained with many clients seeing different carers everyday and issues surrounding the maintaining of dignity were also raised.

Fifteen minute appointments were not found to suitable in many cases. Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Milford west, added that recent NICE guidelines recommended visits of 30 minutes apart from when they were for medication administration.

Communication problems between caring companies and client families were highlighted as well as recruitment and retention of workers.

Cllr Miller acknowledged it would have cost implications, with the council having to insist on the private providers it employed for care services including the Living Wage in any contract made, but it would lead to a better service. He added that a supplement was provided to social workers which should also be offered to carers.

He also called for better tracking and analysis of the current provision, which is provided by external bodies following the removal of ‘in-house services’.

Council leader Cllr Jamie Adams said the council everyone signed up to protocols of good care for adults and the need for that care was recognised.

He said there was an issue in the county, and across Wales, of people being provided with care at the wrong level and an evaluation was need to ensure “best value”.

Cllr Adams stated that realistic travel times built in to worker’s day and included in their wage were a requirement of contractors.

“There are many clients where a 15 minute visit is entirely sufficient. On leaving hospital this county is consistently in the best performing in Wales in terms of delayed transfer of care,” he added.

Due to cost implications there had been a shift in the way care was delivered while providing the best possible service for clients said Cllr Adams, while adding that increases in wages would undermine the recent pay and grading review the authority carried out.

Cllr Sue Perkins, cabinet member for education and safeguarding, criticised Cllr Miller for not circulating his research report to all members. He pointed out that it had been published.

“Demand doesn’t go away,” said Cllr Miller. “People access other services in Pembrokeshire, increasing demand on other services and health providers. It’s not positive and it’s not sustainable. There is evidence of workers not being paid National Minimum Wage or travel times. I’m sorry I’m not making it up to fit your utopian view of services.”

A majority of councillors voted against Cllr Miller’s proposal.