2024-03-13 13:30:50
“A stark but realistic picture”, says Hft in response to The King’s Fund’s Social Care 360
Learning disability charity Hft has responded to this year’s Social Care 360 report, released today by The King’s Fund, saying it reaffirms the extensive challenges facing the adult social care sector and the need for immediate action to alleviate pressure.
Steve Veevers, CEO of Hft, says:
“This year’s report paints a stark but realistic picture of the social care sector – one that continues to be affected by high vacancy rates, limited funding and a lack of action.
“The King’s Fund is right to highlight the intense pressure our sector is under, with adult requests for social care hitting a record high of two million.
“Our Sector Pulse Check report, produced in partnership with Care England, illustrates how this is reflected in the experiences of adult social care providers. In 2023, 43% of adult social care providers closed a part of their organisation or handed back contracts as a result of cost pressures.
“This undeniably has a direct impact on those who draw upon support and, without clear long-term funding, will likely continue, forcing care providers to make more tough decisions.”
The report also revealed that the social care workforce vacancy rate is at its second highest-ever level at 9.9%, with a significant 6% gap between the rate for social care and the wider unemployment rate.
“This gap evidences that the social care workforce continues to be undervalued and underappreciated, despite the vital work they carry out on a daily basis,” Mr Veevers says.
“From our own research, we know that staff pay and poor perceptions of social care as a career are the two biggest barriers to recruitment and retention in our sector.
“To ensure our workforce get the credit they deserve, and reduce the social care vacancy rate once and for all, we would like to see a long-term funding settlement, with ringfenced funding for local authorities that enables them to pay the real cost of care, including a wage for the workforce that mirrors the responsibility and importance of their role. We continue to support sector-wide efforts to achieve this.
“It is high time that the Government, and the next, addresses these challenges and invests in our invaluable sector. Providers should no longer have to shoulder the financial burden of empty promises and funding cuts, and those who need support should not have to fight for it.”
Notes to editors
For further information please email media.enquiries@hft.org.uk
About Hft
Proudly established in 1962 by a group of visionary parents, Hft is a charity supporting more than 2,500 learning disabled adults in England and Wales. Together, we are creating a future where learning disabled people and their families can live the best life possible.
Providing personalised support. Creating solutions for living independently. Coming together to campaign for positive change. Fundraising for new opportunities and a bigger impact.
In 2033, we’ll live in a world where learning disabled people have greater choice. About where they live. The support they need and want. And how to spend their time and money.
Learning disability versus difficulty
A learning disability is different from a learning difficulty but the terms are often confused and used inter-changeably. A learning difficulty does not affect general intellect, whereas a learning disability is a life-long condition characterised by a reduced intellectual ability and struggle with everyday activities.
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For more information about Hft please visit www.hft.org.uk
