The Jersey Care Federation has predicted the cost of home care will rise to at least £39.80 per hour by 2024.

The Federation now wants to see the government give more support to the health and care sector as they face huge predicted costs.

Cheryl Kenealy, Federation Chair, says there needs to be support and investment in the sector.

"People won't be able to pay that amount of money, but if that's the price of carers to be, we need to find a way around that.

"The UK has invested very, very heavily in their market, they support recruitment overseas, there are grants for private care sectors.

"There are all sorts of things the UK is doing for the care sector, but yet there's nothing coming from our government."

The British government has confirmed that £500 million in funding to help develop the sector's workforce is being halved.

A recent report has warned England's sector is "on the precipice" as it battles with rising costs and staff recruitment.

The Homecare Association’s ‘Minimum Price’ is widely recognised in the social care and health sectors and predicts that in the UK care will rise to £31.56 per hour.

This is down to factors including the increase in carer wages, inflation, the price of fuel and rising rents, rates and utilities.

The island's inflation rate currently sits at 12.7%, while the UK has seen prices increase by 10.4%. 

Jersey's care sector pays 30% more in staff wages than the UK and is contending with a much higher cost of living, adding an additional £8.24 per hour on top.

Cheryl Kenealy, says they have been highlighting the issue for some time.

"While it comes as no surprise, we do hope that these new figures demonstrate the seriousness of the issue."

"Many factors driving up costs are not within our control, there are several measures which would ease the situation, in particular providing support for overseas 2 recruitment, which is something the UK and many other governments are now providing in the form of grants to their private care sectors."