ADASS budget survey: CCN response

The annual Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) budget survey has been released, which illustrates again the financial pressures social care authorities are under.

Below, the County Councils Network responds.

Cllr David Williams, County Councils Network spokesman for health and social care, and leader of Hertfordshire County Council, said:

“The ADASS budget survey is another stark example of the fragility of social care services. Council leaders share the concerns of directors that the situation is worsening and, without further assistance from government, more vulnerable older and disabled residents with complex needs will not get receive sufficient levels of care.

“With counties facing the largest growth in elderly populations, receiving the lowest funding per-head and staring down a £1bn funding black hole by 2021, it is unsurprising that confidence in delivering necessary savings to budgets is low. Faced with a potent mixture of rising demand and inadequate funding, we will do all we can to transform services and effectively manage our budgets but as the survey shows, we have little option but to raise charges in order to protect services for those people with the greatest level of need.

 “With the status quo no longer an option, the social care green paper must set out sustainable funding solutions not only for councils but for individuals; with councils given equal status to the NHS. This should be backed by extra resource for local government in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

 “A reformed social care system must remain locally led by councils and democratically accountable to ensure that it can deliver an integrated personal services in partnership with the NHS.”