A West Country care group is supporting calls for urgent action to tackle the financial pressures facing the social care sector following proposed increases to National Insurance Contributions (NIC) and the National Living Wage.

Philip White from White Care Group, which runs three dementia care and nursing homes in Somerset, has voiced his support for an online petition initiated by the Registered Care Providers Association's (RCPA) which needs 100,000 signatures to force a debate in Parliament.

The RCPA believes the increase in employer NIC and rise of the National Living Wage will put immense pressure on the social care sector and is calling on the government to review the decision and exempt all social care providers from the added costs.

"For employers like us, the additional £615 per year for each staff member working more than eight hours a week is a significant burden," said Philip, who is operations manager for White Care Group.

 "Add to that the National Living Wage increase, and we're looking at a substantial rise in wage bills across the board.

"The costs will be crippling for care providers and leave many of them in an impossible position.

"The petition is an opportunity for us to make our voices heard. We urge every care provider, employee, and local community member to sign and share it. This is a crucial fight for the survival of a sector that impacts countless lives."

In the recent budget, the government committed an additional £600 million for social care, but the RCPA warns by the time this funding reaches Somerset, it will amount to just £6 million, which will barely make a dent in addressing the sector's needs.

"We need transparency and a clear commitment to ensuring funding is directed where it's most needed: to independent care providers who play a crucial role in supporting both the NHS and local communities," added Philip White.

"The government must engage with providers to ensure funding is allocated fairly and where it will have the greatest impact. The independent sector has always supported the NHS, particularly with hospital discharges, but we can only continue to do so with proper resources.

"Right now, it feels like we're being asked to do more with less – and that is simply unsustainable."

White Care Group is a third generation, family-run business with three care homes across Somerset: St Benedicts in Glastonbury; The Rectory in Taunton; and St Cecilia in Shepton Mallet supporting individuals with dementia, elderly care requirements, disabilities, and other complex care needs.