Key Messages
- The impact of the cost-of-living crisis is being disproportionately felt by people who draw on care and support, and those who work in adult social care.
- Rising costs are adding a further layer of pressures for adult social care providers and most councils will struggle to deal with the failure of care providers this winter.
- There are not sufficient staff to deliver all of the care and support that is needed and not enough is being done to make adult social care an attractive and competitive career choice.
- The majority of councils that responded are reporting providers handing back contracts, closing or ceasing trading, with huge impacts for a growing number of people.
- Despite growing requests and more people waiting for different aspects of adult social care, Directors are expected to have additional savings this year and even more in 2023/24.
- Directors are ever more pessimistic about the finances of the local and health care system.
- Adult social care is in a significantly worse position going into this winter than last year.
- More home care continues to be delivered.