Today the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) have released their influential annual survey of social care budgets: http://www.adass.org.uk/social-care-services-unsustainable-adass/

The survey shows the continuing significant impact of budget reductions on the social care sector.  The survey shows that:

– Taking into account increasing need, there has been a 26% reduction in social care budgets over the last four years;

– This amounts to over £3.5 billion savings from adult social care;

– Nearly 50% of Directors of Adult Social Care think that fewer people will be able to access care services in 2015-16.

Richard Hawkes, chair of the Care and Support Alliance, said:

“Every day we hear from older and disabled people who are going without the support they need to get up, get dressed and get out of the house. This is also putting unbearable pressure on family carers.

“Councils are now warning that chronic underfunding will only make this situation worse.

“The new Care Act is bold and ambitious.  But delivering on it is dependent on putting the social care system on a sustainable financial footing.

“The Better Care Fund is an important step towards integrating health and social care, and can play a big part in the solution.

“But as today’s figures show, this must be accompanied by a long term funding commitment for social care by the Government.”