BASW England response to findings from “bleakest” ever ADASS Autumn survey.

The Association of Adult Social Services (ADASS) have published findings from their Autumn survey, including responses from Directors of adult social services in England.

The response from 94% of Directors who do not believe they will have either the ‘funding’ or ‘workforce’ to meet the care costs of older and disabled people in their respective Local Authorities only reinforces the gravity of the situation. 

Three quarters of Directors do not believe they could manage if a large care provider failed this Winter and over half say the same with reference to smaller providers.

The scale the problem has long been predicted not only by BASW England, but by voices right across the sector who have long been calling for significant investment in social care and a long-term strategy to support the struggling workforce.

Ahead of this Thursday’s financial statement from the Chancellor, BASW England demand that he reflects on his previous comments that social care cuts had been a “silent killer” and “went too far” and that he commits to deliver the funding and support needed to avoid a catastrophe this winter.

Jackie Mahoney Co-chair of the BASW England adult group: “The ADASS survey findings only confirm the appalling situation we have known would happen for our care services this winter. Directors of adult social services are clear that more funding and a bigger workforce is needed to tackle this crisis head on, with more funding needed than the £500 million discharge fund can deliver.”

Margaret Young Co-chair of the BASW England adult group: "Adult Social Care must be protected from any austerity 2.0. It must start to be seen as an integral part of the welfare system supporting adults with care needs to remain in their home and communities. We hope the ADASS survey findings will be taken seriously by the Chancellor in his Autumn Statement delivering a sustainable funding plan which is so desperately needed to avoid this becoming the next 'silent killer' in social care."