Directors of Adult Social Services spring 2024 survey (15 July 2024)

Summary

This report outlines the findings of the Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) spring 2024 survey. It calls on the new Government for a change of approach, warning that without major reform, the challenges it highlights will continue to intensify and have a negative impact on people’s lives.

Content

Key findings

• The financial situation facing Directors of Adult Social Care is as bad as it has been in recent history.
• This challenging financial situation, coupled with the increasing complexity of need, means that Directors’ confidence in delivering on their legal duties is faltering.
• The complexity of people’s adult social care needs means that more people now require more intensive care and support.
• Directors want to invest more in early support and care closer to home. However, the stretched funding available for adult social care means this has to be prioritised towards those people with the most complex needs.
• Funding and service pressures in the NHS are having a knock-on effect in adult social care.
• Adult social care staff are increasingly undertaking tasks that were previously delivered by NHS staff on an unfunded basis.
• There are fewer people waiting for assessment, care and support to begin or for a review of their care plan.
• Councils continue to invest in care closer to home, increasing the amount of homecare hours available and reducing reliance on residential care.
• Care markets remain unstable, with many providers struggling.
• Unpaid carers are being left to pick up the pieces of shortages in health and social care support to the detriment of their own health and wellbeing.