Newton: The Forgotten Story of Social Care
This report, produced by Newton, explores working-age adults within adult social care - an increasingly large cohort of individuals requirng help.
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This joint County Councils Network (CCN) and Newton report highlights the urgent need to improve outcomes for working age and lifelong disabled adults – an often-overlooked group in national social care policy.
It provides a detailed evidence base, identifies the drivers of cost and demand, and sets out priorities for local and national action.
Two-thirds (63%) of adult social care commissioning budgets in England are now spent on working-age and lifelong disabled adults, despite adults aged 18 to 64 accounting for 40% of adults drawing on social care.
The report shows that costs have risen significantly over the last few years, primarily driven by the complexity of care needs. Without reform, expenditure on this working age and lifelong disabled adults is forecast to rise by 50% by 2030.
Key findings from the research include:
- Working age and lifelong disabled adults now account for 63% of commissioned adult social care spend (£10.1bn in 2022/23).
- Expenditure has grown by 32% since 2019/20, faster than both inflation and minimum wage rises.
- Demand is rising, with transitions from children’s to adults’ services forecast to increase by 25% by 2030.
- Outcomes are often poor, with life expectancy 20 years shorter than the general population, and only 5.1% of adults with a learning disability known to local authorities in paid employment.
- Rising costs are driven mainly by increasing complexity and overprovision, with weekly support for this group rising 31% since 2019.
Recommendations to government include:
- Increase the national focus on working age and lifelong disabled adults within social care reform.
- Define a shared ambition for better outcomes centred on independence and prevention. Expand suitable housing to reduce reliance on residential care and inappropriate supported living.
- Improve national social care data collection and develop clearer needs metrics. Review and reform national funding models.
- Locally, redesign delivery models, strengthen market‑shaping, prioritise independence‑focused practice, and invest in improved planning for people aged 18-25 transitioning into adult social care services.