News Story

Social care system is failing young people

October 28, 2016

New research from the disability charity Scope has found that the care system is failing to meet the needs of young disabled people (17-30 year old).

A survey on young disabled people found:

  • 61% want support to get involved in their communities but are not supported to do so.
  • 60% are not getting the support they want to form relationships.
  • 45% aren’t getting the support they want and need to get an education.
  • 60% want their social care support to help them find and stay in work but their care package doesn’t include this support.

The report demonstrates the negative impacts of not getting the care they need, and being denied access to education and employment opportunities.

The social care system remains chronically underfunded and has seen £4.6bn removed from its budget since 2010. This has meant that older people, disabled people and their carers are being left overburdened and without support. At least a million older people and disabled people have unmet needs, and without greater investment in social care, this number will continue to rise.

Vicky McDermott, Chair of the Care and Support Alliance said:

“The report today is further evidence of how social care underfunding undermines the aspiration and potential of the next generation.

“Theresa May needs to ensure her Government tackles the crisis in social care as part her ambitions to ensure we have a county that ‘works for everyone’. A first step is to use this in the forthcoming Autumn statement to invest greater funding into the social care system.”

You can read the full report here: http://www.scope.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/social-care/leading-my-life