The number of people awaiting review of current provisions, start of a service or direct payment for social care, has increased by 37 per cent from November 2021 to April 2022, according to a count<\/a> carried out by The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) in 83 councils.<\/p>\n
The crux of the issue is relatively simple, if not profound in scale \u2013 as Cathie Williams, ADASS Chief Executive put it: \u201cthe big reason why almost 40,000 people are waiting for the care and support they need to actually start is that care providers simply do not have the pairs of hands they need to sustain services.\u201d<\/p>\n
A recent PPP report, The Social Care Workforce: Averting a Crisis<\/i><\/a>, quotes a 2021 survey of 2,000 social care services undertaken by the National Care Forum (NCF) that reveals how 74 per cent of providers have experienced an increase in the number of staff leaving since April 2021. Indeed, the vacancy rate for care home providers has nearly doubled in the last year, from 5.9 per cent (in March 2021) to 10.3 per cent (in May 2022).<\/p>\n
ADASS has discovered a similar pattern \u2013 almost seven in ten ADASS members surveyed said that care providers in their area had closed or handed back contracts. Many more said they could not meet all needs for care and support because of providers\u2019 inability to recruit and retain staff. The implications of this are significant. When people\u2019s needs are unmet (or unknown), this can place a sizeable burden on their lives and on the lives of unpaid carers who may feel obliged to step in. Indeed, over the last ten years<\/a>, the number of young people aged 16-25 in England and Wales providing unpaid care to family and loved ones has risen to approximately 350,000.<\/p>\n
Councils are simply overwhelmed. The ADASS Spring Survey found that most councils were facing an increase in numbers of people seeking support: 87 per cent said more were coming forward for help with mental health issues, 67 per cent reported more approaches because of domestic abuse or safeguarding, and 73 per cent reported seeing more cases of breakdowns of unpaid carer arrangements. In addition, 82 per cent of councils were dealing with increased numbers of referrals of people from hospitals and 74 per cent were reporting more referrals or requests for support from the community. To that end, the Health Foundation<\/a> has estimated that an additional \u00a37.6 billion will be needed to meet demand in 2022\/2023.<\/p>\n
In September 2021, the government announced a new \u2018Health and Social Care Levy\u2019, effective April 2023 onwards \u2013 a 1.25 per cent increase in National Insurance contributions from employed people as well as pensioners. Yet, now more than ever, policy experts recommend<\/a> that financial planning and smart allocation, elements that have been lacking in the past, are required to reap the maximum benefits from this additional funding. The Levy, which will aggregate to \u00a35.4 billion over three years<\/a>, has been reported to fund necessary reforms in the social care sector<\/a> such as improving staff training and recruitment practices, initiatives for mental health well-being and new avenues for career progression. Yet, many regard this amount as insufficient \u2013 according to The Health Foundation<\/a>, a further \u00a37 billion will be required every year to tackle demographic and inflationary pressures and to increase staff pay.<\/p>\n