00:00Care providers are not able to financially sustain their company, this is going to have
00:06a knock-on effect on people needing care.
00:08Independent care providers across the county are warning their future could be at risk
00:14as rising costs put more pressure on smaller businesses, despite additional support for
00:19carers announced in this year's autumn budget.
00:23For care providers, staffing makes up a huge part of the business and so when employment
00:28costs rise it can have a knock-on effect from everything from recruitment to the number
00:32of hours providers can actually offer.
00:35More Care Services and Gravesend is one independent provider that is feeling the pressure, already
00:41operating on tight profit margins.
00:44Obviously the national minimum wage going up, which we welcome that because our carers deserve
00:50to be better paid, which is a really good initiative from the government, but it doesn't
00:58match the fair pay and the fair charge.
01:00It doesn't give us as an employer the confidence in recruiting more because together with increasing
01:09national minimum wage means increase in national insurance, pension contribution.
01:16The cost of employing more people to work in this industry is rising.
01:21And as a small care provider it can have a massive impact.
01:27While employees of course have welcomed the increase in their wages, with some hoping it
01:32may encourage more people into the sector, there are concerns about whether smaller providers
01:37can absorb the additional costs and continue operating.
01:41The care sector is kind of being under it because if you go out there, how many people want to
01:46do care?
01:47There are a few.
01:48People want to go into tech, do other kind of jobs, understand, but care is important,
01:54but they don't look into that.
01:56But now they are now kind of focusing their attention into it.
01:59You see that it will attract more people and attract, like interest more people to do it.
02:05Financially wise, it definitely increased the cost of the operations for the company.
02:10So it's not just about the wages.
02:14Yeah, it's the entire business because if we can't get a good rate to cover the gap increase,
02:22then it's going to be a big trouble for us.
02:25With further financial pressures ahead, there are fears that without greater support, some
02:31smaller providers may struggle to survive.
02:34Maisie Walker for KMTV in Gravesend.
