Steve Ball
@steveball.bsky.social
British resident of France; director of UK care company; trombonist; sailor.
It's satirical isn't it?
October 21, 2025 at 6:43 PM
It's satirical isn't it?
My son did a performance degree on trumpet. After completing, qualified as a chartered accountant. Now a senior financial manager in a large company, but still plays trumpet at a high level as an 'amateur'.
October 8, 2025 at 7:30 PM
My son did a performance degree on trumpet. After completing, qualified as a chartered accountant. Now a senior financial manager in a large company, but still plays trumpet at a high level as an 'amateur'.
Please tell me you are fluent in at least one other language, or I will be shocked.
October 6, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Please tell me you are fluent in at least one other language, or I will be shocked.
The AA and RAC both provided routes for journeys on request (free of charge I think), sent by post in the form of a typed itinerary. My recollection would be from the 70's.
June 4, 2025 at 6:58 AM
The AA and RAC both provided routes for journeys on request (free of charge I think), sent by post in the form of a typed itinerary. My recollection would be from the 70's.
...and.... We need more children, full stop...ffs
June 1, 2025 at 9:56 PM
...and.... We need more children, full stop...ffs
I refer you to this book by Paul Morland, a really interesting read; tldr: it is a serious problem for the future. (Musk is an idiot though.)
March 30, 2025 at 6:40 AM
I refer you to this book by Paul Morland, a really interesting read; tldr: it is a serious problem for the future. (Musk is an idiot though.)
Isn't he just standing up for his colleagues and the rule of law? Somebody needs to.
March 18, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Isn't he just standing up for his colleagues and the rule of law? Somebody needs to.
I think it would be a quarter??
March 11, 2025 at 12:06 PM
I think it would be a quarter??
And one reason private fees are so high is that providers use them to cross-subsidise local authority funded places.
February 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
And one reason private fees are so high is that providers use them to cross-subsidise local authority funded places.
Yes but it's an entirely different picture for providers who do not supply the private market and are dependent upon local authority fees....
February 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Yes but it's an entirely different picture for providers who do not supply the private market and are dependent upon local authority fees....
This is so depressing
February 25, 2025 at 1:47 PM
This is so depressing
The Government's refusal to address social care funding is threatening services. We are a provider of community support to people with learning disabilities in a south-west county. We've just learned what our fee increase will be for next year, and it is alarming. 🧵 #socialcare #learningdisability
February 14, 2025 at 2:40 PM
I despair at this government's failure to address the social care funding crisis, only to then exacerbate the situation with the employer NI increase. This is not sustainable any longer. @providersunite.bsky.social are planning a day of action and Westminster march on 25 Feb. Government must listen.
February 13, 2025 at 2:25 PM
I despair at this government's failure to address the social care funding crisis, only to then exacerbate the situation with the employer NI increase. This is not sustainable any longer. @providersunite.bsky.social are planning a day of action and Westminster march on 25 Feb. Government must listen.
The judgement against Stoke Council in January (R (SARCP) v Stoke-on-Trent City Council [2025] EWHC 18 (Admin)) suggests that the action of our Council is unlawful by, amongst other things, failing to have due regard to the actual costs of care.
February 13, 2025 at 2:25 PM
The judgement against Stoke Council in January (R (SARCP) v Stoke-on-Trent City Council [2025] EWHC 18 (Admin)) suggests that the action of our Council is unlawful by, amongst other things, failing to have due regard to the actual costs of care.
This is a funding shortfall of £150k, a huge amount. We don't yet know how we will find this, if indeed we can, but the solution will have to include relative pay cuts for staff, affecting recruitment and retention. We already have significant dependency upon sponsored migrants for our staffing.
February 13, 2025 at 2:25 PM
This is a funding shortfall of £150k, a huge amount. We don't yet know how we will find this, if indeed we can, but the solution will have to include relative pay cuts for staff, affecting recruitment and retention. We already have significant dependency upon sponsored migrants for our staffing.
This year our fees will increase by 4%. We have calculated that increases in NLW , employer's NI, and pension contribution totals a 9% increase in staffing costs. The council have explicitly stated that they have not taken account of the NI increase because the government have not funded it.
February 13, 2025 at 2:25 PM
This year our fees will increase by 4%. We have calculated that increases in NLW , employer's NI, and pension contribution totals a 9% increase in staffing costs. The council have explicitly stated that they have not taken account of the NI increase because the government have not funded it.
Firstly, for context, our fee increase last year was 3.2%. The national living wage increased by 9.8%, and staffing costs make up the majority of our costs. So we have already been facing significant challenges. We pay more than NLW rate, but this shortfall meant that the margin had to be reduced.
February 13, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Firstly, for context, our fee increase last year was 3.2%. The national living wage increased by 9.8%, and staffing costs make up the majority of our costs. So we have already been facing significant challenges. We pay more than NLW rate, but this shortfall meant that the margin had to be reduced.