Social care services struggling to provide enough support to those who need it

Commenting on the ADASS Spring Budget Survey 2022, Natasha Curry, Deputy Director of Policy at the Nuffield Trust, said:

“The striking findings of this survey come as social care services are struggling to cope with the after-effects of Covid-19, long-standing recruitment and retention difficulties, and years of funding cuts.

“What’s especially concerning this year is to see consistent accounts from Social Services Directors of the consequences for social care of wider pressures. Over three-quarters reported that referrals had risen because of a breakdown in unpaid carers arrangements and the complexity of people’s needs on leaving hospital have caused further problems in providing care that is sufficient and of good quality.

“As forthcoming research from the Nuffield Trust will document, support for unpaid carers has not kept pace with a significant growth in their numbers. Growing need in society stemming from people living longer and with more complex conditions is piling additional pressure on a social care system already on its knees and severely short of staff.

“As Conservative leadership candidates debate tax cuts and the future of the National Insurance rise, the reality facing any new Prime Minister will be a social care service struggling to provide enough care and support to those who need it, particularly as winter arrives.”