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- Adult Social Care Newsletter | Volume 57
Adult Social Care Newsletter | Volume 57
Plus: Would the sector cope with another pandemic?
Rafe Houston
July 02, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
Welcome to Adult Social Care, your weekly newsletter offering the latest insights, strategies, and innovations empowering leaders to navigate challenges and drive excellence in the UK’s adult care sector. We're committed to keeping you informed and inspired with fresh ideas to tackle the year ahead.
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UK GovTech Live at LGA🎤
UK GovTech was on the ground in Liverpool as leaders from across local government tackled the most pressing issues shaping children’s services and early years strategy. Here are our Top 3 Picks from Day 1:
🧒 Meeting the Plan for Change for Children
Susie Owen (DfE), Alice Wiseman (Gateshead & Newcastle), and Dr. Matt Price (1001 Critical Days) discussed how to meet the national goal of 75% of children to be ready to learn by school age—emphasising family services, secure attachment, and tackling inequality from birth.
🌱 Thrive at Five x Stoke-on-Trent
A powerful example of early years investment in action, with a 51% drop in language delays and 5x more parent-baby groups—built on collaboration between local government and community.
🏛️ Transformation at Wyre Council
Rebecca Huddleston and Sarah Palmer shared learnings from Wyre’s two-year transformation journey and how it’s helping shape wider strategy across Lancashire.
Stay tuned for more from #LGA2025 in our next edition.
Tonight’s Event🥂
Just a few spots left for UK GovTech x Agilisys: Centring Citizens in GenAI Transformation — taking place tonight, 2 July, 6:15–7:30pm at Clockwise Liverpool (5 mins from the main venue).
If you're a Children’s or Adults’ Services leader exploring how GenAI can support frontline teams, join local gov peers and digital leaders for drinks, networking, and real-world insights.
Quick Reads📖
SOCIAL CARE DEVELOPMENT
Skills for Care calls for 90 providers to pilot the Care Workforce Pathway, a career structure designed to enhance skills and retention in adult social care. This initiative aims to address workforce challenges, offering guidance for career progression, while feedback will refine its national rollout.
SOCIAL WORK CHALLENGES
Councils face significant challenges in recruiting and retaining social workers in children's, adults', and mental health services, despite some improvements in vacancy and turnover rates. Over 80% reported difficulties with children's social workers, with market supplements often used to attract candidates. Staff shortages persist, highlighting an ongoing crisis in workforce stability.
ADULT SOCIAL CARE
Proposed adult social care reforms in England suggest adopting a Japanese-style proactive health assessment for individuals turning 65, aiming to enhance quality of life and reduce care costs. This preventative approach, recommended by the IPPR, could decrease care home admissions and provide sustainable funding. Immediate reform is urgent to address a £23.3 billion social care crisis.
SOCIAL CARE SECTOR
Britain's social care sector is severely compromised, facing workforce shortages and financial challenges due to past government policies and insufficient investment. These issues, compounded by new immigration reforms, leave the sector ill-prepared to handle another pandemic effectively. Immediate action is essential to address these vulnerabilities, ensuring resilience in the future.