FUNDING for agency workers to provide home-based care for the elderly and vulnerable in Worcestershire is the highest in the region, it has emerged.

A new report has highlighted Worcestershire County Council for offering outside bodies the best rates for providing domiciliary care like personal visits for washing, dressing and cleaning.

A national watchdog has heavily criticised local authorities in the Midlands after some of them fell into the worst-funded areas in the UK.

The average rate of pay in the region, based on a per-worker figure handed to the agencies is £13.90 an hour, but Worcestershire is top of the pile at £15.80.

The United Kingdom Homecare Association, a watchdog, has hit out at other areas for promoting "poor terms and conditions".

Only 28 out of 203 councils surveyed paid their providers better rates than the recommended minimum of £15.74 an hour.

The lowest 'price' offered by councils in the region was Birmingham at £11.56 an hour, while nationally one in five local authorities offered £11 an hour or less.

In England, the average rate was £13.77.

Colin Angel, the body's policy director, said: "Low prices paid for homecare services carry a number of risks, including poor terms and conditions for the workforce, insufficient resources to organise the service and insufficient training for the work that supports the increasingly frail and disabled individuals who qualify for state-funded support.

"Unless this underfunding is addressed, the independent and voluntary sector will continue to struggle to recruit and retain care workers with the right disposition, training and qualifications.

"Ultimately, the care market will become commercially unsustainable."

The body has produced a hard hitting report called 'The Homecare Deficit' which shows how Worcestershire has gone against the general trend in the region.

To see the report for yourself, click here.

The Conservative leadership at County Hall says the data shows providers are getting "a fair rate".

It also says due to relatively low unemployment in the county, it is loathe to try and make cut backs on the spending because it would cause serious problems.

The calculations include any mileage rates, pension contributions and other administration costs included in the contracts signed by outside providers.

Councillor Sheila Blagg, cabinet member for adult social care, said: "It is interesting to note the council pays a rate that is above the (UKHCA) average figure and appears to be the highest paying authority in the West Midlands.

"The council is aware of concerns about home care workforce capacity here, as there is nationally, but it is a particular problem in Worcestershire because it has comparatively low unemployment.

"We are considering how to work in partnership with providers and other commissioners to build capacity and make best use of the available workforce."