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| Adult social care firms struggling for staff due to cuts | Adult social care firms struggling for staff due to cuts |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Adult social care firms are struggling to hire, retain and train staff as a result of cuts to council budgets, a survey of senior officials suggests. | Adult social care firms are struggling to hire, retain and train staff as a result of cuts to council budgets, a survey of senior officials suggests. |
| Councils in England are facing a £1.1bn shortfall this year, on top of "almost unendurable" cuts since 2010, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services has warned. | Councils in England are facing a £1.1bn shortfall this year, on top of "almost unendurable" cuts since 2010, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services has warned. |
| Freezing care provider fees to save money was no long sustainable, it said. | Freezing care provider fees to save money was no long sustainable, it said. |
| Ministers say extra money will help NHS and social care services work together. | Ministers say extra money will help NHS and social care services work together. |
| The survey, which was completed by 147 directors of adult social services for councils in England, suggests that funding reductions to social care budgets have totalled £4.6bn since 2010 - a 31% overall reduction. | The survey, which was completed by 147 directors of adult social services for councils in England, suggests that funding reductions to social care budgets have totalled £4.6bn since 2010 - a 31% overall reduction. |
| Growth in elderly | Growth in elderly |
| Budgets for adult social care - which provides practical support to people due to illness, disability, old age or a low income - will reduce by a further £500m in cash terms this year, it said. | Budgets for adult social care - which provides practical support to people due to illness, disability, old age or a low income - will reduce by a further £500m in cash terms this year, it said. |
| "Taking the growth in numbers of older and disabled people into account, this means that an additional £1.1bn would be needed to provide the same level of service as last year," the report warned. | "Taking the growth in numbers of older and disabled people into account, this means that an additional £1.1bn would be needed to provide the same level of service as last year," the report warned. |
| It said some councils had made savings in the past by freezing fees paid to providers, but care providers were now also facing financial problems. | It said some councils had made savings in the past by freezing fees paid to providers, but care providers were now also facing financial problems. |
| Some companies - particularly those in southern England - are struggling to attract staff, amid increasing concern about the quality of care, it said. | Some companies - particularly those in southern England - are struggling to attract staff, amid increasing concern about the quality of care, it said. |
| "What is at stake is the continuing capacity of adult social care to sustain services to those in greatest need," ADASS president Ray James said. | "What is at stake is the continuing capacity of adult social care to sustain services to those in greatest need," ADASS president Ray James said. |
| "In virtually all our authorities, the number in need is growing, while the complexity of their needs is increasing." | "In virtually all our authorities, the number in need is growing, while the complexity of their needs is increasing." |
| ADASS called for the government to "protect essential care and support services to the most vulnerable members of our community". | ADASS called for the government to "protect essential care and support services to the most vulnerable members of our community". |
| But a government spokesman said the survey "ignores" a commitment to invest £10bn in health services that are being "joined up" with social care, by 2020. | But a government spokesman said the survey "ignores" a commitment to invest £10bn in health services that are being "joined up" with social care, by 2020. |
| BBC Cost of Care project | BBC Cost of Care project |
| The BBC has launched an online guide to the care system for the over-65s. The "care calculator" covers residential care and the support provided in people's own homes, for tasks such as washing and dressing. | The BBC has launched an online guide to the care system for the over-65s. The "care calculator" covers residential care and the support provided in people's own homes, for tasks such as washing and dressing. |
| Users can submit their postcode and find out how much each service costs where they live in the UK. | Users can submit their postcode and find out how much each service costs where they live in the UK. |
| There is also a dedicated BBC Cost of Care website, with news stories, analysis and video. | There is also a dedicated BBC Cost of Care website, with news stories, analysis and video. |
| The spokesman said: "Increasing budgets isn't the only solution. By working innovatively and joining up health and social care we can improve care and also save money." | The spokesman said: "Increasing budgets isn't the only solution. By working innovatively and joining up health and social care we can improve care and also save money." |
| However, Councillor Izzi Seccombe, from the Local Government Association (LGA), said adult social care services were facing "enormous pressures" due to "insufficient funding, growing demand and escalating costs". | However, Councillor Izzi Seccombe, from the Local Government Association (LGA), said adult social care services were facing "enormous pressures" due to "insufficient funding, growing demand and escalating costs". |
| "We have long warned that investing in the NHS whilst social care budgets are under continual pressure is simply a false economy. | "We have long warned that investing in the NHS whilst social care budgets are under continual pressure is simply a false economy. |
| "It is social care services that support elderly and vulnerable people to maintain their independence, live in their own community and stay out of hospital longer," she added. | "It is social care services that support elderly and vulnerable people to maintain their independence, live in their own community and stay out of hospital longer," she added. |
| 'Worsening crisis' | 'Worsening crisis' |
| Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said the idea of a further £1bn coming out of social care budgets was "chilling". | Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said the idea of a further £1bn coming out of social care budgets was "chilling". |
| Sue Brown, vice chairman of the Care and Support Alliance - which represents 80 leading charities - said the figures "confirm what we already know - that the care system is in worsening crisis". | Sue Brown, vice chairman of the Care and Support Alliance - which represents 80 leading charities - said the figures "confirm what we already know - that the care system is in worsening crisis". |
| She said "chronic underfunding" of adult social care had seen "dramatic year-on-year rationing of support, excluding hundreds of thousands of older and disabled people from the care they desperately need". | She said "chronic underfunding" of adult social care had seen "dramatic year-on-year rationing of support, excluding hundreds of thousands of older and disabled people from the care they desperately need". |
| Janet Morrison, chief executive of the charity Independent Age, said: "This worrying survey shows how the frail and elderly in our society are being hit by year on year cutbacks to council services." | Janet Morrison, chief executive of the charity Independent Age, said: "This worrying survey shows how the frail and elderly in our society are being hit by year on year cutbacks to council services." |
| "It's vital now more than ever that we have an honest debate about the true costs of providing social care, not just health care," she added. | "It's vital now more than ever that we have an honest debate about the true costs of providing social care, not just health care," she added. |