The findings of the survey found that almost all Directors are concerned about their ability to provide the care they are legally required to. Nearly all have concerns that they have insufficient capacity to deal with winter or the failure of a major care provider. This could fundamentally undermine their ability to ensure that care is provided to those of us who are older or disabled.

93% of Directors indicated that they have some concerns, or insufficient capacity to manage the failure of a large provider. 90% of Directors stated that they have either some concerns, or insufficient capacity to manage winter related pressures over the coming months. 

In response to the findings, President Julie Ogley said:

“Good care and support transforms lives. It enhances health and wellbeing, increases independence, choice and control. It is distinctive, valued, and personal.”

“Back in July, our budget survey showed that we are desperately lacking the sustainable long-term funding needed to provide vital services that will allow us all to live the dignified lives we want to lead.

“We are relentlessly positive about what social care can achieve. But it’s clear from today’s findings that the situation is worse than in July.  We cannot keep relying on emergency, one-off short-term funding and we cannot afford more vague promises or partial solutions. Those of us who are not getting care and support, those who are not getting enough care, those who are giving up work to care for family members and those who are getting ill and ending up in hospital for want of care at home deserve the social care we know is possible and essential.

"This is why, whoever forms the next government must make a choice and prioritise adult social care.  They must give certainty about funding, longer-term reform and a long-term plan that puts fairness at the heart of everything.”

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

A copy of the report is available here.

The key findings of the survey are:

  • Nearly all Directors (90%) say they have concerns or insufficient   capacity to deal with winter.
  • Directors identified that there have been unintended consequences of the strong focus on reducing rates of delayed transfers of care from hospitals in their areas with more than 8 in 10 (85.5%) of Directors saying there has been a moderate, significant or very significant increase in rapid discharges to short-term care home placements that became long-term (82.3% in 2018). 
  • Nearly all Directors (94%) say that have little or no confidence that they will be able to deliver their statutory responsibilities for care market sustainability by the end of 2020/21.
  • More than 8 in 10 (82%) of Directors have no or partial confidence that they can deliver their statutory responsibilities regarding Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)/Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) and 76% for prevention and well-being.
  • Nearly all Directors (93%) say they have concerns or insufficient capacity to deal with the failure of another major care provider.
  • More than three quarters (76.6%) of Directors report there has been a significant increase in readmission to hospital (up 13% from 63.6% in 2018).

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services is a charity. Our members are current and former directors of adult care or social services and their senior staff. Our objectives include:

  • Furthering comprehensive, equitable, social policies and plans which reflect and shape the economic and social environment of the time
  • Furthering the interests of those who need social care services regardless of their backgrounds and status, and  
  • Promoting high standards of social care services.