2024-01-25 17:05:45
Hft welcomes £500m social care funding boost
The Government’s much-needed additional funding for adult social care, announced yesterday, is to be welcomed but it is imperative that it reaches adult social care providers directly.
Responding to the Government’s announcement of an additional £500m for the local authority Social Care Grant, Steve Veevers, CEO of learning disability charity Hft, says: “We
are happy to see the Government prioritising this invaluable sector by committing the bulk of its £600m to prop up local councils to social care.
“This represents an additional £2-3m for each Local Authority, split across Children’s and Adult Social Care, so in real terms even less for our sector. However, in our recent Sector Pulse Check research, published in partnership with Care England, almost all providers (84%) told us that additional funding from central government administered over the past year had made no difference to the sustainability of their organisation.
“We appreciate the dire situation most Local Authorities are in; this is not a social care crisis of their making, and they are struggling with the same chronic underfunding that cascades to the adult social care sector. The Sector Pulse Check is clear that change should come from central government.
“At present, mechanisms to deliver government grants are not fit for purpose and are failing to reach, and make a difference for, the organisations who need it most. We are keen to understand how the Government will ensure this new funding makes a tangible difference to those delivering care.
“Ultimately, this is yet another example of short-term funding to tide over our sector, but our position on the brink of a precipice remains. While we know it won’t happen overnight, we cannot stress enough the importance of a long-term funding settlement for adult social care and reiterate our call for all national policy makers, people who draw up care and support, providers and local commissioners to come together to address this.
“Only then will we be able to truly address the fundamental financial and workforce challenges we face, and confidently plan to deliver innovative and high-quality care long into the future,” concludes Mr Veevers.
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
