William Eichler 08 November 2016

Social care system facing £1.9bn funding gap

The publicly funded social care system faces a nearly £2bn funding gap next year - even if the majority of councils decide to levy the new precept on council tax.

A joint statement from The King’s Fund, Nuffield Trust and The Health Foundation has warned the Government ahead of the Autumn Statement that cuts and rising demand will leave adult social care facing a £1.9bn funding gap in 2017.

The health charities said the sector would face this funding gap even if the majority of councils decided to levy the 2% social care precept on council tax.

UK public spending on social care is set to fall back to less than 1% of GDP by the end of this parliament, leaving thousands more older and disabled people without access to services.

‘Cuts to social care funding are leaving older and disabled people reliant on an increasingly threadbare local authority safety net,’ said the assistant director for policy at The King's Fund, Richard Humphries.

‘For many, the care they get is based not on what they need but on what they can afford and where they live. More people are left stranded in hospital.

‘This Government has committed to creating a country which works for everyone, and they now need to match this with action by using the Autumn Statement to address the critical state of social care.’

In order to address the social care funding crisis, the three bodies urged Whitehall to bring forward to next year funding from the Better Care Fund which is planned to reach £1.5bn in 2019/20.

In response, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, said: 'Unless social care is properly funded, there is a real risk to the quality and safety of care, and being able to meet basic needs such as ensuring people are washed and dressed or helped out of bed.

'The Government must use the Autumn Statement to provide councils with the funding to ensure we have a fair care system which keeps people out of hospital and living independent, dignified lives at home and in the community.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

North Northamptonshire Council
£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recuriter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Capital Delivery Manager

South Wales Trunk Road Agent
£50,788 - £52,805
To be responsible for the implementation of Welsh Government’s Renewal and Upgrade programme. Baglan, Port Talbot
Recuriter: South Wales Trunk Road Agent

Senior Engineer x 2

Hounslow London Borough Council
£47,532 –£55,620 per annum
Our people are deeply committed to providing excellent services to our residents, doing all we can to make lives as good as they can be. Hounslow (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recuriter: Hounslow London Borough Council

Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI Chelmsford

Essex County Council
£25081.00 - £27653.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI ChelmsfordFixed Term, Part Time£25,081 to £27,653 Per Annum, Full Time EquivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Head of SEN Assessment & Resolution

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
£77136 - £88230 per annum
Shape a fairer future for children with special educational needs.As Head of SEN Assessment and Resolution at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chel England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
Linkedin Banner