FOR NURSING AND RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES
W W W. T H E C A R E R U K . C O M
THECARERUK
THECARERUK
THECARER_UK
Issue 248
Social Care “Overspend” at Highest Since 2015 Leading to Reduced Care Spending
Local authority budgets for social care were overstretched by £774 million last year to meet the legal duty to provide care and support, recording the highest overspends in a decade, according to the latest annual survey from the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS). Local authorities across England have been forced to cut prevention spending by over 10% this year as adult social care costs continue to spiral out of control. The organisation’s Spring Survey, released yesterday (July 15), paints a stark picture of a system under unprecedented strain. Prevention spending has plum-
meted to £1.3 billion, its lowest level since 2021/22, as cash-strapped councils are forced to prioritise crisis interventions over early support services. The survey findings highlight how mounting financial pressures are pushing local authorities into “crisis mode” operations. With escalating care costs and dwindling resources, councils are increasingly unable to invest in the preventative measures that could help residents maintain their independence longer.
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