Local authorities across London have called for ‘immediate emergency’ funding to boost adult social care provision across the capital ahead of winter.
The cross-party group London Councils welcomed the recent announcement of a £500m adult social care discharge fund for local authorities across England, but said there remained ‘considerable uncertainty’ over how much of this will go directly to councils.
London boroughs spend over £2.8bn on adult social care annually to support around 150,000 people. This accounts for almost a third of their controllable expenditure.
London Councils points out that boroughs face overall finance pressures across all their service areas of up to £400m this year, rising to over £700m next year, and adult social care budgets represent ‘a top concern’.
The group is also seeking a delay to planned reforms of adult social care funding. They argue that the introduction of a new adult social care charging framework in October 2023 is too soon and does not give enough time for the social care sector to prepare.
Cllr Nesil Caliskan, London Councils’ executive member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Care, said: ‘We’re deeply concerned about the impact of worsening financial pressures on London’s adult social care sector. Adult social care plays a vital role in supporting older and disabled Londoners, but also in ensuring the smooth-running of London’s NHS. This was particularly pronounced at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and boroughs remain committed to working in partnership with the NHS to serve London’s communities as best we can.
‘We were pleased to see the government announce the £500m adult social care discharge fund, but we need urgent clarity on what extra resources are coming to councils to bolster services this winter.
‘Looking to next year and beyond, the current timetable for reforming adult social care funding looks increasingly unrealistic and risks destabilising services already under immense pressure. We hope ministers will listen to councils’ concerns and work with us to find a better way forward, including the long-term funding solution the sector still desperately needs.’
