The number of social care providers who say they have been
forced to cut support for vulnerable adults has doubled in the
last 12 months as a direct result of financial
pressures, according
to a newly published report.
According to independent research commissioned by Hft, a
national charity supporting adults with learning disabilities,
one in five organisations reported offering care to fewer
individuals as a means of balancing the books (a rise of 12
percent from 2018), with 95% citing rising wage bills as the main
drain on resources.
A third of providers (33%) cited having to shed staff in
the past year, while almost half (45%) have closed down some
parts of the organisation and/or handed back contracts. 52%
expected to have to do so in the future.
The research is Hft’s third annual Sector Pulse Check
report, carried out by independent economics and business
consultancy Cebr, and was the first of its kind to focus
primarily on learning disability providers. Based on survey
analysis from social care providers, it provides an annual
snapshot of the financial health of the social care sector over
the past year and an indication of how providers anticipate the
next twelve months will progress.
In last year’s report, 11% of providers warned further cuts
in funding could lead to a reduction in the quality of
care. This year, 43% of providers said that they had
witnessed a negative effect on the quality of care they were able
to provide, citing an increase in complaints, worsening CQC
accreditations and a decrease in morale as the most severe
indicators of a decline in standards.
Billy Davis, Public Affairs and Policy Manager for Hft,
said: “As our Sector Pulse report shows, the sad reality is that
the social care sector has run out of options. While in the
previous report providers were focusing on streamlining through
internal efficiency savings, we can now clearly see that cuts are
affecting people, not just processes.
“The lack of a sustainable cash injection for the sector
has seen providers resorting to offering care to fewer people to
manage spiralling costs at a time when demand for social care is
widely acknowledged to be growing.
“The fact that providers are now having to take what they
reported to be their least favoured cost cutting measures
illustrates that these decisions are not being taken lightly. A
lack of alternatives has left providers with no choice but to
make decisions culturally at odds with the way they want to run
their organisations, such as handing back services and,
ironically, shedding staff in the midst of a sector-wide
recruitment crisis.
“Given the fragility of the social care sector, there’s
never been a more important time to hear the views of the
organisations providing care for some of the most vulnerable
people in society. This report is an opportunity to hear the
collective voices on the issues facing the sector and we must
listen. It’s clear that at its heart social care funding is, and
continues to remain, a national issue that requires a national
solution.”
The report also highlighted that:
-
Providers are taking action to promote positive
mental health within their organisations
67% of respondents are sign-posting to mental health
services, while other steps taken include implementing mental
health awareness training (66%) and introducing relevant employee
benefits packages (59%).
-
The sector recognises the benefits of
technology
76% of providers say the use of technology enhances the
lives of the people they support. However, while three
quarters of providers use technology as part of their services,
81% say they are not using it to its full potential.
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The social care workforce shares a common
motivation
78% of providers believe staff embark on a career in social
care to make a difference to the lives of vulnerable
adults.
Josie Dent, Senior
Economist at Cebr, said: “Pressure on social care providers to
cut costs while also paying for increasing wage bills and agency
worker fees has ultimately culminated in organisations taking
drastic measures. The share of providers now offering care
to fewer individuals doubled compared to last year’s survey.
Meanwhile, the proportion having to make internal efficiency
savings, close parts of the organisation or hand back services to
local authorities remained high. The sector desperately needs
more funding in order to provide the same level of care and
support to the people who need it.”
Hft is now calling for the Department for Health and Social
Care to bring forward their long overdue proposals on reforms for
the long-term future funding of adult social care.
ENDS
Notes to editors
-
77 social care providers responded to this year’s Sector
Pulse Check survey.
