Adult social care
Council insources 'unsustainable' care service
Bath & North East Somerset Council has decided to bring in-house adult care services following the termination of an ‘unsustainable’ outsourcing contract.
Councils under ministerial pressure over winter care funding
Ministers have piled pressure on councils to maintain winter funding for home care packages, hours of care and care home placements as bed blocking increases.
Exploring all the options
The ‘radical rethink’ needed to reform the adult social care system calls for bold decisions, full exploration of all the options – and a funding solution that may need some manoeuvring around manifesto pledges on tax, says Cllr Dave Fothergill.
Let’s tell a new story
Graham Allen says a focus on social care being solely about getting people out of hospital only diverts attention from keeping as many people as possible away from unnecessary admission.
Online tool helps residents assess likely care costs
Anton Hodge describes how a new online tool to help people assess the likely cost of adult social care services has brought benefits to residents and to North Yorkshire CC.
Medway's success in reducing delayed transfers of care
Chris McKenzie outlines how innovation and strong partnership working has enabled Medway to reduce levels of delayed transfers of care (DToC) to among some of the lowest levels in the region.
LGA care talks offer rejected
The Government has declined an offer by the Local Government Association (LGA) to host talks on how to fund social care.
Jenrick hails 'biggest multi-billion pound spending increase in a decade'
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed what he describes as the ‘biggest multi-billion pound spending increase for councils in a decade’.
We want to work with new Government 'to help deliver on our shared ambitions'
One of Boris Johnson's key priorities must be to publish the provisional Finance Settlement quickly - and the LGA agrees with the Government's position that we need to get away from ‘Whitehall knows best’, says chairman Cllr James Jamieson.
Four Seasons hands 44 care homes to rivals
The facilities will be transferred to Roseberry Care Centres, Belsize Healthcare and Harbour Healthcare under an agreement with one of its largest landlords.
The year that was
It’s been a year notable for things that never were – the Spending Review, social care Green Paper, devolution framework or, indeed, Brexit. But proof emerged that most male councillors are actually called John.
All we want for Christmas is
In all, 2019 is a year epitomised more by deficiencies than its successes, says Heather Jameson. We are still awaiting the adult social care Green Paper; the Spending Review; the devolution framework; the local government finance settlement.
Social care needs funding solutions ‘for the short, medium and long-term’
Solace spokesperson for wellbeing Paul Najsarek responds to the findings of the ADASS autumn survey that revealed 90% of respondents had ‘some concerns about, or insufficient capacity to manage’, winter pressures.
General Election manifestos ‘not credible’ on social care
Experts have cast doubt on election pledges to fix the social care system.
Trust in councils is on the up
Trust in councils is on the rise – reaching its highest level for three years.
Major parties ‘fall short’ on social care funding commitments
None of the three major parties have pledged enough in social care funding to fix the ongoing crisis, a health think-tank has concluded.
At least 90,000 extra social workers needed to meet care reforms
An extra 90,000 care workers will be needed to provide just two hours of basic care for older people with high needs, a report has warned today.
Nine in 10 care directors concerned at winter pressures
More than 90% of adult care directors are concerned at their ability to cope with winter pressures or provider failure, a survey has found.
Let's ensure the sector gets heard above the post-election hubbub
To get its voice heard by an incoming government, the sector should unite around the main themes - including funding, national policies for both adults and children's services, place-making, infrastructure and more, says Anthony May.
Promising the earth, but are they fit for the future?
Heather Jameson says that as we approach 2020, we are greeted by election manifestos appealing more to voters harking back to history, rather than looking toward the future.