The LGA's media office provides the national voice of local government in England and Wales on the major issues of the day for national, regional and local press.
This insightful report on what social care directors are facing on the ground and what actions they want to see makes essential reading for government.
“This invaluable report provides further evidence of the immediate difficulties councils and care providers are facing in delivering care and support. Demand for services is increasing, budgets are not stretching as far, unpaid carers are facing further strains, and recruitment and retention remain huge challenges."
“This survey shows councils are doing all they can to support care providers despite being under huge pressure themselves to combat coronavirus and protect our elderly and most vulnerable."
"This funding for supporting patient discharges from hospitals will be significant over the winter months. We are pleased to see the importance of social care being recognised in improving this service, but it is vital to remember that social care has huge value to people’s lives in its own right."
“Now more than ever, people working in social care are playing a vital and valuable role in society and this campaign is another important boost to this in-demand profession. "
Responding to the publication of the Government’s white paper on adult social care reform, Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:
“This much-anticipated white paper sets out a positive vision for the future of adult social care and it is right that it has been co-produced with and alongside people who draw on care and support. It is also encouraging to see the Care Act is the foundation upon which these reforms will be built, particularly the emphasis on housing, greater recognition of the workforce and skills, and prevention
"The upcoming Spending Review must provide councils with the extra funding they need to help shore up social care ahead of winter and get through the second wave of COVID-19, while also using this as the basis for future reform of social care to place it on a long-term, sustainable footing.”
“This report helps to stimulate the public debate we are leading on how to provide a long-term solution to funding adult social care to rescue a system in crisis."
“The availability of quality home care services are key to supporting people’s independence at home and in the communities they know and love. It is therefore a significant concern that these services are currently so fragile because of the acute funding pressures on the system"
"Councils are doing all they can to get people out of hospital safely and quickly and delays attributable to social care are down 7.2 cent from July to September."