SEE YOU IN 2025! 🎉

As 2024 wraps up, thank you for being part of our journey this year. This is our final newsletter of the year, but rest assured, we’ll be back in 2025 with more insights and strategies to keep you ahead in the world of Adult Social Care. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

SOCIAL CARE CRISIS

Social Care Crisis Demands Immediate Action, Warns Campaigner to Lords

Mike Padgham, Chair of the Independent Care Group, urged the House of Lords to address the escalating care crisis. He advocated for a National Care Service, warning that without immediate action, more people will lack essential care. Rising costs threaten providers, risking closures and increased unmet care needs.

ADULT SOCIAL CARE TECHNOLOGY

Adult Social Care has always been the backbone of community support, but in 2025, it’s getting a helping hand—through smarter processes and innovative tools like QuickAction, which has been transforming the way councils handle their workflows.

• Turning Paperwork into Progress

Needs assessments are no longer an uphill battle. QuickAction has been a game-changer, automatically generating first drafts of assessments and giving social workers a running start. Instead of spending time on repetitive tasks, they can focus on tailoring plans to residents’ unique needs. It’s like handing them the baton halfway through the race—they’re faster, more efficient, and less exhausted by the finish line.

• Time for What Really Matters

In 2025, QuickAction ensures they can spend more time with residents, having meaningful conversations and delivering impactful care. And yes, maybe even squeezing in that hot drink between visits.

• Human Empowerment, Not Replacement

The fear with technology is always that it’ll replace people. But here’s the truth: QuickAction doesn’t replace anyone. It simply lightens the load. Social workers remain the heart of adult social care; QuickAction just helps them focus on being brilliant at what they do best.

CARE HOMES

UK Care Homes Face Rising Demand Amidst Ageing Population Pressures

The UK care home sector has reached its highest occupancy levels since 2019, with an average rate of 88%, according to Knight Frank 2024 Healthcare Trading Performance Report. This marks a full recovery from the pandemic-induced decline, driven by an ageing population and increasing demand for care services. The report highlights a 2% increase from last year, with Northern Ireland and Wales showing significant growth in occupancy rates. The over-85 demographic, which constitutes a large portion of private care residents, is expected to grow substantially, intensifying the demand for specialised care, particularly dementia care beds, which currently face a 10% supply shortfall.

Financially, the sector has seen a rise in average weekly fees by 11% to £1,182, contributing to a 26% increase in EBITDARM. Despite rising staffing costs, improved operating margins have reduced their impact on overheads. Property costs per bed have decreased slightly, while food costs have risen. The performance disparity is evident, with homes rated “Outstanding” by the Care Quality Commission achieving a 30% margin, compared to just 2% for those rated “Inadequate” Homes with 60 to 100 beds are identified as the most profitable.

The report underscores the urgent need for investment in quality care facilities, as the sector faces a shortage of high-standard stock. Despite recent challenges, care homes in demographically favourable areas continue to demonstrate resilience, meeting essential societal needs.

What We’re Building Towards

In 2025, the real win isn’t just faster processes or better systems—it’s time. Time for social workers to focus on people, time for families to feel heard and supported, and time for councils to plan for the future with confidence.

If I can touch on the more personal side to the work we do, I have been blown away by the developments in government technology over the past year. It seems only a couple of months ago, we were discovering the transformative power of ChatGPT, Claude and other large language models and now we are using artificial intelligence to enhance government functions directly improving citizen outcomes.

While I understand the apprehension that surrounds artificial intelligence, and I agree that in no way should it replace the human touch that is needed in government services, for better citizen outcomes we must utilise AI. For too long, the public sector trails behind our counterparts in the private sector in taking up transformative technology, systems and processes – but no longer. By building a team of genuine experts interested in Gen AI, like we are here at Agilisys Transform – we are taking local governments on a journey for Gen AI excellence and we are looking forward to what the future brings!

Here’s to a future where care is smarter, kinder, and—dare we say it—a little bit easier for everyone involved. Cheers to 2025!

👉 Keep up with Agilisys Transform on their website or on LinkedIn.

CARE HOME CLOSURE

Ruthrieston House, Aberdeen will close after failing to meet care standards. Issues included poor medicine management, with residents at risk. Despite efforts, VSA did not improve in time. The council seeks new placements for residents. VSA apologised, stating that prioritises resident safety and staff reallocation. A new manager oversees the closure.

HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY

Tech-Enabled Care Redefines Home Services in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire

Premier Community integrates Access TEC into its care services across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, enhancing independence and safety for clients. This tech-enabled approach aligns with government goals for digital integration and preventative care, ensuring personalised, outcome-based support without replacing traditional compassionate care. The initiative promises greater autonomy and connected care experiences.

ADULT SOCIAL CARE TECHNOLOGY

How Do You Turn a Crisis of Resources into an Opportunity for Transformation?

The public sector faces rising demand, budget cuts, and inefficiencies—but these challenges are a chance for transformation. Embracing technology, especially AI, can turn constraints into opportunities, reducing administrative burdens and enabling staff to focus on impactful work.

From automating Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) to streamlining workflows, AI demonstrates how innovation can enhance existing systems without costly overhauls. Gradual modernization and cross-department collaboration are key to driving effective change.

By leveraging AI, the public sector can create efficient, citizen-focused services. Discover how these strategies can turn today’s challenges into lasting improvements.

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