Care England has called on councillors elected in last week's local elections to make adult social care a top priority, warning that the statutory duties involved are often poorly understood by incoming members.
The organisation's Chief Executive, Professor Martin Green OBE, described the results as bringing ‘seismic change’ to local government, with new administrations forming across the 88 care-commissioning councils that went to the polls on 7 May.
Prof Green highlighted that councils with social care responsibilities spend around two-thirds of their entire budgets on adult and children's social care combined – obligations he stressed are statutory duties under the Care Act 2014, not discretionary spending.
He urged every new councillor to treat social care ‘not just as a budget line, but as a lifeline’ for older people, disabled adults and their families.
Care England said it stood ready to work constructively with all newly formed administrations.
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