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Your Weekly Adult Social Care Newsletter
Plus: ICG calls for national action on social care reform
Rafe Houston
February 13, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 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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SOCIAL WORK TRENDS
Social worker numbers in adult services reached a record high, driven by permanent roles. Regional disparities and demographic shifts were noted, with significant changes in workforce diversity. Urgent attention is needed to address regional inequalities and workforce challenges.
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!
Recent surveys by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) have shown that as of 31 March 2024, there were 418,029 individuals waiting for an assessment, the start of care or direct payments, or a review of their care plan.
For those of us working in the field, this statistic is not surprising. As a Practice Manager, I was responsible for assigning assessments to social care workers. While trying to manage the influx of referrals, I had to be mindful of the workload on staff. When I completed assessments myself, it could sometimes take several hours, particularly in more complex cases.
An assessment, often referred to as a Needs Assessment, determines either an individual’s care and support needs or a carer’s need for support. The assessment is a critical intervention which supports a local authority to determine whether a person has a need for care and support to help them live their day-to-day life.
Traditional assessments are time-consuming and labour-intensive, requiring extensive data collection and analysis. Early feedback from a social care worker trialling the Needs Assessment Tool indicates that it has halved the time required to complete an assessment. Importantly, this tool is designed as an assistive aid rather than a replacement for social workers’ expertise. Once transcribed, the assessment can still be tailored to the worker’s writing style, ensuring accuracy and personalisation. The use of technology in assessments, not only improves productivity, but social care workers can dedicate more time to meaningful engagement, fostering stronger connections and delivering more personalised care.
SOCIAL CARE CHALLENGES
Escalating demands in adult social care creates unsustainable financial pressure, with one example of a council spending £1.5 million annually on a single person's complex needs. Despite increased government funding, a £6.2 billion gap persists. Strategic focus on preventative measures is crucial, as the National Care Service's implementation faces delays. |  |
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The UK’s aging population is placing unprecedented strain on the social care system, with experts warning that without urgent reform, services will struggle to meet increasing demand. Recent projections indicate that nearly a quarter of the UK population will be over 65 by 2043, significantly raising the need for long-term care solutions, home support, and healthcare services.
Despite the growing need, chronic underfunding and workforce shortages continue to weaken the sector. Reports show that around 165,000 vacancies exist in adult social care, making it difficult to provide adequate care for those in need. The situation is further exacerbated by rising costs and a fragmented funding system, leaving many elderly individuals unable to access essential support.
Experts are calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the social care system, including increased investment, workforce expansion, and better integration with NHS services to ensure sustainable, high-quality care. With the UK government under pressure to act, the coming years will be crucial in shaping policies that address the realities of an aging society and prevent further strain on families, caregivers, and healthcare providers.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING
The UK government has confirmed over £69 billion in funding for councils in England for the 2025-26 financial year, marking a 6.8% cash-terms increase in Core Spending Power compared to the previous year. This boost aims to support essential services, with up to £3.7 billion allocated specifically for social care authorities. The funding package includes an £880 million uplift to the Social Care Grant and a new £270 million Children's Social Care Prevention Grant to support family help initiatives. Additionally, £60 million is designated for long-term improvements in the local government sector, including empowering mayoral areas and supporting councils' financial reporting systems.
BUDGET ALLOCATION
West Lothian's health and social care partnership faces a £7.3 million overspend, largely due to escalating adult social care costs. This budget imbalance results from increased staffing expenses and complex care demands, with significant savings and service cuts required to achieve financial sustainability in the coming fiscal year. |  |
ADULT SOCIAL CARE
Carents®, a Northumberland-based social enterprise established in 2020, has joined a national research initiative aimed at enhancing adult social care services for older adults living with frailty. The year-long project seeks to improve care delivery and outcomes for this vulnerable population. |  |
SOCIAL CARE ADVOCACY
The Independent Care Group (ICG) has endorsed a national day of action to urge the UK government to address the ongoing challenges in the social care sector. The ICG emphasizes the need for immediate reforms to ensure sustainable and effective care services for the elderly and vulnerable populations.
MORE
Recent financial developments among UK councils include:
Westminster City Council is addressing a £41 million budget shortfall, necessitating significant fiscal adjustments.
Ceredigion County Council has identified £11.8 million in cost pressures, prompting a review of spending and potential service adjustments.
Knowsley Council has appointed a new Director of Resources to oversee financial management and strategic planning.
YOUR FEEDBACK MATTERS 🗳️
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