Pressures continue to grow for the adult social care sector after the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) released their latest report.
The results make startling reading, with widespread delays for reviews, undelivered care hours and a lack of suitably trained carers generally in the profession.
Key findings from the report
- 506,131 people were waiting for an assessment, care package, direct payment or review on 28 February 2022, up 28% on November 2021 (395,845).
- 64,772 people had been waiting at least six months for an assessment as of February 2022, up 26% on November 2021 (41,192).
- 61% of directors said they had to prioritise assessments for people where there was suspected abuse or neglect, for hospital discharge or to support reablement after a temporary period of residential care, between 23 February and 11 March.
- 40,288,271 home care hours were delivered from January to March 2022, up 16% on February to April 2021 (34,635,217).
- 2,206,187 commissioned home care hours went undelivered from January to March 2022, up 671% on February to April 2021 (286,148 hours).
All Local Authorities are required by law to identify and then meet of the most vulnerable as per the Care Act 2014. However, with rising demand for services across the board and the pressures facing the sector following the turbulence of the covid-19 pandemic, the delays for reviews and for care needs to be met seems to be failing.
Both ADASS Care England have called for more government intervention and support as there is a genuine fear that the sector will collapse without stimulus to aid social workers and have more trained carers available to help the most in need.
Whilst some delays are inevitable at these times, it is no excuse for long term failings and indeed sometimes Local Authorities need to be reminded of their legal obligations and duties.
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