Warning tax rises could force care homes to close

Mr Padgham, who chairs the Independent Care Group, which represents independent providers, said that as a labour-intensive sector an increase in employee costs was “the last thing social care needed”.

“For a lot of providers this will place existential pressure on them and could well push some out of business, unless it is matched by extra funding to those who commission care and there was little sign of that,” he said.

He said the extra £600m for social care would have “little or no impact” once shared between 152 local authorities and children’s services.

He added: “Any extra funding that might reach providers will be wiped off instantly by the increases in National Insurance and minimum pay which will together heap further pressure on social care providers.”