Social care workforce funding in England is primarily provided by local authorities, which receive funding from the government’s Department of Health and Social Care. This funding is used to support a range of social care services, including home care, residential care, and day services for older people, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable individuals.
In recent years, social care funding in England has been a subject of concern and debate, with many experts and advocacy groups calling for increased funding to meet growing demand for services. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of social care and the need for additional funding to support the sector.
Ministers set to halve the £500m promised to invest in staffing of sector with more than 165,000 vacancies, report says
With more than 165,000 care worker jobs vacant, and low pay driving staff to quit for better wages in retail and hospitality, care providers and councils have been clamouring for investment in recruitment and retention. Inadequate staffing levels are frequently noted as a cause of neglect and poor care by the Care Quality Commission.
Sarah McClinton, president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said: “The government has a strong long-term vision for improving adult social care, but this plan leaves their vision in tatters. It ducks the hard decisions and kicks the can down the road again before the next election.”
Ms McClinton pointed out that the government is holding back £600m from the £1.7bn of reform programmes announced last year at a time when “adult social care is in crisis, with staff vacancies at an all time high and half a million people waiting for care and support”.
“Now is not the time to be holding funding back, it needs to reach people who need care and support a soon as possible,” she added.
Martin Tett (Con) County Councils Network social care spokesperson said: “The funding package announced by the chancellor last autumn for social care was vital – enabling councils to weather the storm of inflationary costs and increased demand so they have a good chance at stabilising services and effectively implementing these reforms.
“But today’s announcement that funding to support wider systems reforms has been reduced will be deeply disappointing for county authorities.”
Cllr Tett pointed out that there is currently a 9.5% vacancy rate in the social care sector in county areas, which sits higher than the national average.
“Tackling the challenge of workforce capacity was a key plank of reform, and a reduction in funding coupled with a lack of focus on pay and conditions will ultimately make it harder to drive forward these vital reforms,” he said.
Natasha Curry, deputy director of policy at the Nuffield Trust, branded the announcement “yet another ill-judged raid on a social care system already on the brink”.
“This multi-million-pound cut to the funds intended to improve the system will be seen as a betrayal by those working in the sector and the millions of people left struggling to access the care they need.”
Ms Curry added: “The smoke and mirrors attempt to sow confusion bundling these cuts alongside preannounced funding on the fair cost of care and better care fund shows the government simply are not serious about improving and investing in social care.”
Caroline Abrahams, co-chair of the Care and Support Alliance (CSA) and charity director at Age UK said: “With quite a chunk of money originally promised for social care now no longer available, our CSA members are telling us this is just the latest in a long series of disappointments so far as recent government performance on social care is concerned.”
How much did the king’s coronation cost the taxpayer?
A member of Operation Golden Orb organising committee told The Sun that the ceremony may have cost £100 million. But separate unverified sources have suggested an even higher bill, of up to £250 million, partly because of the vast security costs.
£250 million cut from social services. £250 million spent on a coronation.
Do the maths.
Douglas James
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