A £10 MILLION increase in funding for social care has been described as a “sticking plaster” that won’t cover a massive funding gap in Monmouthshire.

The additional money for the sector was announced by Rebecca Evans, the Welsh Government’s Minister for Social Services and Public Health.

The announcement was welcomed by Care Forum Wales chairman Mario Kreft but he warned it was nowhere near enough.

According to the Welsh Government, the new investment will form part of a three-way agreement to be established between the Welsh Government, local government and social care employers to work together to create a more stable social care workforce.

The funding is said to meet the extra costs associated with the introduction of the national living wage and that it is in addition to the extra £25 million for social care, which was announced in the draft 2017-18 budget in October.

But Mr Kreft said: "Any extra funding to a sector in meltdown is to be welcomed but in reality it is a sticking plaster which will fail to plug the massive funding gap.

“Care providers welcome Welsh Government’s recognition of the pressures the introduction of the national living wage has placed on the sector.

"We all want to see care workers better rewarded for the vital service they provide and the increasing professionalisation of the workforce as we move towards registration.

"The on-going demands of the national living wage increases and registration mean that the value we place on the sector and the funding it receives will need to be revisited as work together with our partners in Welsh Government, local authorities and health boards to make it sustainable.”

Rebecca Evans said: “In Wales, we have prioritised social care as a sector of national strategic importance.

“Tens of thousands of people rely on these vital services every day. We know that the sector is crucial to the effective running of the wider healthcare system, which is why we are supporting the integration of health and social care through our £60m Intermediate Care Fund.

“I am confirming the Welsh Government will provide a further £10m a year to help manage the impact of the national living wage. This will also support work to create a fully registered workforce by 2022.”

The minister also announced that the maximum amount people can be charged for homecare and other non-residential care will increase from £60 a week to £70 from April 2017.