Adult social care
Care sector unprepared for coronavirus ‘struggle’
Emergency measures have not gone far enough to ready the social care sector for the impact of coronavirus, experts have warned.
Sector on 'turbo-charge' to get homeless off streets
Local government is on ‘turbo-charge’ in its efforts to get the homeless off the streets amid the coronavirus crisis, the Prime Minister’s adviser on rough sleeping has said.
Union brands protective promise 'too little too late'
Trade union Unite has branded the Government’s promise that social care workers would have full protective equipment in a week as ‘too little too late’.
£3bn bed blocking coronavirus cash injection
Almost £3bn of the Government’s £5bn Covid-19 funding will go towards freeing up at least 15,000 English hospital beds by the end of next week, the Department of Health and Social Care has announced.
Let's have no shortsightedness about the scale of the COVID-19 challenge
In rising to the challenge thrust upon us by COVID-19 some of what we are likely to be tasked with will be incredibly hard and our own capacity and resilience will be hit hard too, says John O'Brien of London Councils.
Coronavirus care guidance published
The Government has published guidance for councils on how to protect social care during the coronavirus pandemic.
All change
Stockport is transforming itself into a world class town to complement its world famous neighbour – led by a council that’s at the cutting edge of local government.
Hancock announces May talks on social care
Health secretary Matt Hancock has urged MPs and peers to come forward to help secure a cross-party consensus on adult social care.
Tackling ‘two-tier’ access to care in Central Bedfordshire
Central Bedfordshire Council is setting up a wholly-owned company to provide local people with access to high-quality care at a reasonable cost. Julie Ogley explains why the approach is needed.
EXCLUSIVE: Rutland named strongest performer in adult social care index
Rutland CC has been named the strongest performer in adult social care using refined productivity metrics.
Creating communities for all ages
Bringing younger and older people together produces dividends, says Stephen Burke, who outlines how councils can encourage more intergenerational care and living.
‘Things will not get better: We need radical action’
Neil McInroy argues that a crisis in children’s and adults’ services calls for ‘a new spirit of action which challenges economic and political power’.
The chancellor should tackle low care sector pay in the Budget
If the chancellor does not allocate more funding for care training and pay in the Budget the sector will continue to be understaffed and the new post-2021 immigration system will still need to supply it with low paid labour, says Michael Burton.
Enfield closes care company
Services are to be run in-house after Independence and Wellbeing Enfield (IWE) failed to generate enough commercial income.
Care homes to be brought ‘back to life’ in private sector
Derby City Council has sold three of its care homes to the private sector to secure investment.
Funding is solution to social care recruitment crisis - migration committee
The ‘very real problems’ facing social care employers should be addressed through sustainable funding rather than tinkering with immigration rules, the Government’s Migration Advisory Committee has warned.
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.