The social care system is under intense pressure and in need of urgent reform, according to a new report.

The King’s Fund Section Care 360 report says adult social care requests have hit a record high of two million with social care vacancies at their second highest ever level despite the arrival of 70,000 overseas workers.

Simon Bottery, senior fellow at The King’s Fund and lead author, said: “For decades social care reform has been promised by governments but consistently dodged or delayed.  The latest figures make clear that the sector is showing little sign of improvement, leaving thousands of people without the support they need.  

“There are severe financial pressures on local authorities, who fund adult social care, and no sign that national government will step in to help. Nor is there a credible longer-term plan to recruit and retain the staff needed.   

“At a time when adult social care has never faced more profound problems, with record numbers of people requesting support, this is surely the time for the next government, whatever colour it may be, to make social care a priority.”

The report outlines how the cost of purchasing care for local authorities continued to increase at a faster rate than inflation since 2015/16 with the average weekly fee for working-age adults up from £1,400 to £1,540, the average weekly fee paid for older people rising from £670 to £840, and the average hourly rate for home care up from £17.50 to £20.60 (in real terms – taking inflation into account). 

There are approximately 19,000 fewer unpaid carers receiving direct support than in 2015/16, and 21,000 fewer people receiving respite care, over the same period, the report adds.

While the report notes a slight increase in the number of adults receiving publicly funded social care since 2021/22, it attributes this largely to a Covid-19 correction.

Compared to 2015/16 there are still 11% more people asking for support and 2% fewer people receiving it.  

Although the number of social care vacancies fell from an historic high of 165,000 in 2021/22 to 152,000 in 2022/23, this was driven by a sharp increase in the number of overseas staff recruited to work in adult social care with the report noting the government has subsequently tightened rules on visas.

Reaction

UNISON head of social care Gavin Edwards said: “The next government must make care the priority it’s never been. Labour has promised a national care service and crucially, a fair pay agreement in care. 

“Raising wages in this way won’t solve all the sector’s problems. But it will be an important first step that employers, staff and those being supported will all be able to get behind.”

Karin Orman, director of practice and innovation at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, said:  “Investing in the social care workforce, which includes occupational therapists and the occupational therapy support workforce, means we can help stop people’s health conditions getting worse and prevent people from reaching crisis point. It also means people will have more support in their own homes for longer, reducing pressure on an already-stretched healthcare workforce, saving money and reducing waiting lists.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We are fully committed to improving our social care system, having already made up to an additional £8.6 billion available over this financial year and next to support adult social care and discharge. 

“Additionally, we are investing up to £700 million to accelerate digital transformation and rolling out digital care records, as well as funding home adaptations to help elderly and disabled people to be more independent at home.

“We are also helping to attract and retain care workers, including by supporting their career development through a range of new funded training schemes and, for the first time, a clear career path through a new accredited qualification.”