National Audit Office report on social care markets: CCN response

CCN Latest News, CCN News 2021 | 25 March 2021

Today the National Audit Office has released a new report, examining the adult social care market in England.

The report concludes that short-term funding for adult social care, and a lack of long-term vision for the sector has hampered local authorities’ planning.

Cllr David Fothergill, health and social care spokesperson for the County Councils Network, said:

“The issues highlighted in this report, from a reliance in short-term funding for councils to deliver care, a lack of a workforce strategy, and paucity of accommodation options all are a product of the failure of successive governments to produce a long-term plan to finance social care. The County Councils Network has long warned of a broken care market, with local authorities under significant financial pressure, which can only be addressed by financial reform of the system.

“Coronavirus has understandably delayed the long-awaited social care green paper, but the impact the virus has had on the sector should provide government with the impetus for its publication as soon as possible this year.

“Once services are sustainably funded over the next decade, councils want to be put in the driving seat of local reform – with our recent report with Newton showing the art of the possible. Local authorities understand that with extra funding and powers comes extra scrutiny, and they want to work with government in designing any new assurance framework.”

Download the Newton report referenced in the CCN’s comment, here.