Weekly Newsletter - 23.1.2025

Plus: AI flags 12,000 people in Norfolk at risk of a fall

Author

Rafe Houston
January 23, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Adult Social Care

.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. As we step into 2025, we're committed to keeping you informed and inspired with fresh ideas to tackle the year ahead.

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ADULT CARE REFORM

Social care's looming collapse necessitates immediate action, not delayed reforms until 2028. A multiyear funding settlement in 2025 is essential to address workforce challenges and ensure pay parity with NHS staff. Changes in immigration and national insurance policies are critical to stabilise the sector and prevent impending disaster.

HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY

Artificial intelligence has pinpointed over 12,000 individuals in Norfolk at risk of falls, prompting Norfolk County Council to initiate contact to promote preventative measures. This strategic initiative seeks to alleviate NHS and adult social care pressures and is poised for broader implementation following notable trial success.

Hi, I'm Eshe, an Adult Social Care Advisor at Agilisys Transform with 8 years as a Social Worker and Manager. I've worked across Mental and Physical Disability Teams, empowering vulnerable adults to achieve their goals. At Agilisys, I’m combining my passion for social care with innovative AI solutions to enhance efficiency and create more time for meaningful, impactful support. I’m excited to shape a more connected and compassionate future for social care!

Social work is a profession built on relationships, trust, empathy, and understanding. Yet, over time, the increasing weight of bureaucracy has pulled focus away from the human connections that define the work. While some degree of documentation and administration is necessary for accountability, the sheer volume of these tasks has left many social workers feeling overburdened and disconnected from the heart of their roles.

In my own experience, I found it challenging to juggle the demands of note-taking, typing assessments, and meticulously recording every phone call or meeting. These tasks often consumed nearly 80% of my time, leaving little room for the face-to-face engagement that truly makes a difference. I didn’t become a social worker to fill out endless forms, I became one to connect with people, to be present in their struggles and triumphs, and to offer support that truly meets their needs.

When I discovered the potential of AI tools that can transcribe and draft assessments in minutes, I felt a surge of hope. Imagine a world where we could spend less time on paperwork and more time sitting across from someone, fully present and focused on their story. Of course, technology must support, not replace the human element. By embracing innovations that ease our burdens, we can reclaim the time and energy to do the work that drew us to this field in the first place.

SOCIAL CARE FUNDING

Somerset Council is on the brink of bankruptcy due to escalating adult care costs, despite pending government reforms. Councillor Sarah Wakefield highlights the pressing need for immediate funding. With 70-80% of the budget allocated to social care and education, urgent financial support is critical to maintaining statutory care obligations and averting fiscal crisis.

SOCIAL CARE

England's independent adult social care vacancy rate shrank from 7.6% to 7% in 2024, driven by international recruitment. Wage hikes and rising national insurance pose threats of care and workforce reductions, with projected costs of £2.8bn in 2025-26, demanding strategic, policy-focused responses from decision-makers to navigate these impending challenges.

SOCIAL CARE

Care England refutes assertions that NHS delays stem from social care capacity issues, highlighting stable care home occupancy with available beds. The root cause lies in poor planning, funding shortfalls, and mismanagement. A systemic overhaul and adequate funding are urgently needed to fortify social care and prevent future crises.