The adult social care sector in England is facing unprecedented challenges as demand for services continues to rise. This surge in need, coupled with workforce shortages and funding pressures, has significant implications for care providers, local authorities, and most importantly, the individuals who rely on these essential services. But with these challenges come a wealth of opportunities for those providing high quality care in the domiciliary care market.
Let’s explore the current landscape of adult social care in England and what it means for the future.
Recent data paints a clear picture of the increasing demand for adult social care services in England:
In 2021/22, local authorities received a staggering 1.98 million requests for support from new clients
This figure represents an all-time high and a significant increase from previous years. Breaking it down further:
- 612,000 requests came from working-age adults
- 1.37 million requests came from older people (aged 65 and over)
This surge in demand isn’t a temporary blip; it’s part of a longer-term trend.
Since 2015/16, the number of people requesting support has grown by 9%.
Several factors contribute to this growing demand:
An Ageing Population
As people live longer, often with complex health needs, the number of older adults requiring care is rising.
Increasing Disability Rates
The prevalence of disability among working-age adults has increased from 15% in 2010/11 to 23% in recent years.
Post-Pandemic Effects
While requests for support dipped during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, they have since rebounded sharply, possibly due to pent-up demand and the long-term health impacts of the virus.
Despite the rising number of requests, fewer people are actually receiving long-term care. In 2021/22, 818,000 people received publicly funded long-term social care, a decrease of 55,000 from 2015/16.
This discrepancy highlights a growing gap between those who need care and those who receive it.
The adult social care sector is grappling with significant workforce issues:
- In 2021/22, there were approximately 1.79 million posts in adult social care, with 165,000 vacancies
- The vacancy rate in the sector has reached an all-time high, rising from 110,000 in 2020/21 to 165,000 in 2021/22
These staffing shortages directly impact the sector’s ability to meet the growing demand for services.
The cost of providing care is rising:
- In 2021/22, the average cost of a local authority-funded care home place for someone over 65 was £767 per week
- For working-age adults, this figure was even higher at £1,428 per week
- The average hourly rate for externally commissioned home care services was £18.88
While government funding for adult social care has increased, particularly in response to the pandemic, it may not be sufficient to address the sector’s long-term challenges.
Implications for the Future
The growing demand for adult social care services in England has far-reaching implications:
Increased Pressure on Informal Carers: As formal care services struggle to meet demand, more responsibility may fall on family members and friends to provide unpaid care.
Quality of Care: Staffing shortages and financial pressures could potentially impact the quality of care provided.
Health System Impact: Inadequate social care provision can lead to increased pressure on NHS services, particularly in terms of delayed discharges from hospitals.
Innovation in Care Delivery: The sector may need to explore innovative models of care and technology solutions to meet growing demand efficiently.
Workforce Development: There’s an urgent need for strategies to recruit, retain, and develop the social care workforce.
Funding Reform: The current situation underscores the need for a sustainable, long-term funding solution for adult social care.
Opportunities for Bridgewater Home Care
With the rising challenges of the growth of social care, there also come opportunities for those operating within the sector.
Addressing the social care gap: It is evident there is a growing gap between demand for social care and provision of services. This poses huge opportunities to service this part of the market, to those who are currently unable to receive domiciliary care through the local authority, or those who have been let down by ‘private’ providers of care.
Maintaining high standards: With the concern of falling standards to cope with demand, it is evident there is a need for reliable, high quality care that puts the needs of the client first. It’s only the providers that go above and beyond that will sustainably reap the benefits of a growing market.
An employer of choice: It’s currently an employee’s market in social care, meaning providers have to stand out as a responsible, supportive employer to attract and retain quality staff. Bridgewater Home Care have the advantage of being an employer renowned for it’s supportive culture, career opportunities and low employee turnover.
Privately funded market: Inadequate provision of social care by local authorities poses huge opportunities for servicing the private-paying market with a high quality service. For those unable to access local authority care or residential care, community home care can be a lifeline for not only the client, but their families too.
Ahead of the innovation curve: Staying ahead of the curve by providing an innovative service with an efficient business model is essential in this market. Bridgewater Home Care continue to be one step ahead of competition, with technological innovations within operational systems and care delivery.
The growing demand for adult social care services in England presents both challenges and opportunities. While the current situation is undoubtedly challenging, it also highlights the critical importance of the care sector and the need for strategic investment and reform.
At Bridgewater Home Care, we’re committed to being part of the solution. By providing high-quality, person-centred care, we aim to meet the growing needs of our community while advocating for the changes necessary to ensure a sustainable future for adult social care in England.
As we move forward, it’s clear that addressing this growing demand will require collaborative efforts from care providers, local authorities, the NHS, and central government. Only by working together can we ensure that everyone who needs care receives the support they deserve.
