Nuffield Trust responds to ADASS Autumn Survey

Responding to the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services' (ADASS) Autumn Survey, Nuffield Trust Deputy Director of Policy Natasha Curry said:

“Last week saw the social care sector desperately warn that, unless funding is increased, the Budget’s minimum wage and national insurance contribution rises risk further destabilising care provision. Today’s report from ADASS provides yet more evidence of just how much financial pressure this sector is under.  
 
“With ADASS revealing councils are now on course to overspend on adult social care budgets by £564m in this financial year alone, the report starkly illustrates last week’s Budget announcement of £600m extra for adult social care next year likely won’t even touch the sides.  
 
“The last ADASS survey in July this year found nine-in-ten social care directors were worried their budgets would fail to cover their statutory duties, and now many are warning they will have no choice but to shore up day-to-day services through unsustainable measures such as dipping into reserves or selling off assets.  
 
“Government ears cannot stay deaf to the repeated warning bells on social care, which are clamouring after fallout from the Budget and today’s ADASS survey. Not only does ADASS lay out the sector’s vulnerability, the report shows how the sector is fundamental to realising the government’s major shifts in health and care – but to do that it must be supported via meaningful, long-term financial support, instead of sporadic short-term handouts that simply do not go far enough.”