ADASS Snap Survey reports nearly 300,000 on waiting lists for social care
ADASS (Association of Directors of Adult Social Services) recently released their September 2021 Snap Survey, which outlines an increasing number of concerns for Adult Social Care within the Local Government. The survey spoke to experienced Directors from 69 Councils, which provided a snapshot into the current crisis within Adult Social Care.
The survey reports that nearly 300,000 people (294,353) are awaiting social care assessments, care and support or reviews. 11,000 of those have been waiting for over six months. ADASS reported that the emergence of these waiting lists, which have grown by 26% in the last three months, demonstrate the funding and staffing pressures faced by care services.
Up to 184,062 are waiting for reviews of existing care and support plans, this is up 15.6% (24,971) from 159,271 at the time of the ADASS Spring Survey. Under the Care Act 2014’s statutory guidance, councils should review care plans no later than every 12 months.
ADASS highlighted that the longer people wait for an assessment the higher the risk that their condition will deteriorate, they will become mentally or physically unwell, they will suffer a fall, or continue to suffer unreported or concealed abuse or neglect.
Although councils have increased the numbers of care hours delivered over the past three months, they have been unable to keep pace with demand because of staff shortages and more people needing care after being discharged from hospital.
Stephen Chandler, the ADASS president, said: “This survey is a stark reminder of why we need investment in care and support now. It is neither fair nor acceptable that people are waiting longer and getting less care. People need care and support to live a good life now. They cannot and should not be made to wait.”
BetterCare Finance is a digital financial assessment tool that encourages citizens to self-serve their financial assessment for care. The result of using the platform has seen councils such as Kirklees eradicate their backlog and reduce their failed care package rate by 50%. The self-serve function frees up overstretched staff to focus on the more complex and vulnerable cases, making sure no one slips through the net.
BetterCare Support is a digital tool that empowers citizens to self-serve their Care Needs Assessment online. Users are guided through a series of short animations for each of the 10 areas of the Care Act to indicate what level of care they need (if any). The platform reduces the number of home visits required and unnecessary contact from individuals who don’t meet the eligibility criteria, whilst also giving a more informed view of the individuals needs prior to any further contact – creating compelling efficiency savings.
