Spring budget: social workers are at 'breaking point'

Published by Professional Social Work magazine, 16 February 2023

Reaction to the spring budget among health and social care leaders has focused on the near total absence of announcements for the sector. 

Chair of BASW UK Julia Ross said: “Months of rising prices have plunged many households into financial insecurity and hit those on the lowest incomes the hardest. 

“Meanwhile, social workers are being stretched to breaking point doing their upmost to meet rising demand in social work services. The human cost for the many children, families and adults facing poverty of the government not responding with bold and urgent action is one that we cannot afford.

“While parts of today’s budget offer some support, overall it falls short in truly alleviating the worst impacts of the cost-of-living crisis and addressing any of the problems facing social care.”

Association of Directors of Adult Social Services president Sarah McClinton called the budget a ‘missed opportunity’ to plug the ‘£7 billion adult social care funding gap’ set to increase to £9 billion next year. 

She tweeted: “Government urgently needs to deliver a long-term, fully funded plan to meet the needs of older and disabled people and carers, prioritising the staffing crisis.”

Care England chief executive Professor Martin Green OBE added: “Against the backdrop of a workforce crisis and rising vacancies, the rising cost of living and increasing energy costs, the stabilisation of the adult social care sector should be the Government’s priority in the coming months. 

“The NHS cannot survive in the long term if the social care sector is unsustainable. A political consensus must be forged on how to fund and support our vital sector sustainably over the long term.”

There were also concerns about the chancellor’s vague promise to produce the long-awaited workforce plan, which once again failed to materialise.
 
Sally Warren, director of policy at think tank The King’s Fund, tweeted: “The chancellor yet again promises (the) workforce plan will come. It's really needed now - we have a workforce with vacancies in many key roles - primary care, social care. Across all roles, staff report being exhausted, burnt out, not having enough staff to do work safely.”

And Steve Brine, chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee, said: “The health and social care sectors cannot function effectively without a workforce strategy to meet future demand.
“We have repeatedly urged Ministers to produce a workforce plan and we look forward to it being published shortly, as promised today.”

Concerns over the likely increase in benefits sanctions were also raised by many.

Henry Parkes, leading economist at the Institute for Public Policy Research tweeted: “Interesting to hear what is meant by "better enforcement" here....sanction rates on UC are already at all-time highs at a time where (the) financial safety net has never been more vital.”

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation backed this view, adding: “There are big problems with the work capability assessment, so there are good reasons for change.

“But the plans must not go hand in hand with an increase in sanctions, which we know are counter-productive, harmful to finances and health, and drive people into destitution.”

On the central childcare announcement, the Resolution Foundation said: “As many low-income families are already entitled to ‘free’ childcare for younger children, this policy will largely benefit middle-and-higher income families: 47 per cent of gains will go to the top 40 per cent of households, compared to 28 per cent to the bottom 40 per cent.”

And Mark Russell, chief executive of The Children’s Society, said plans to change free childcare “will not solve the urgent financial stress families are experiencing now.”

“Families are living with financial hardship every day – from struggling on a low income to trying to navigate unexpected financial shocks, such as a boiler breaking down or losing a job.”

Housing and mental health leaders also expressed their concerns over gaps in the budget. 

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, tweeted: “The Chancellor could have prevented rising levels of homelessness, but instead he’s stuck his head in the sand. 

“A massive growth in homelessness is surely not the type of growth the government wants, so why is it ignoring this crisis?”

And Rethink said: “We didn’t hear enough in #budget2023 about mental health and social care services.

“Despite the positive news of £10m being made available for suicide prevention and £100m for charities and community groups, it’s clear the government is failing to battle this health crisis.”