Council responds to Government’s Social Care plans

Responding to publication of the Government White Paper on Social Care, Alan White, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, said: “The provision of good quality adult social care needs putting on a long-term sustainable footing rather than leaving to individual local authorities, so I will look at the detail of this proposal with great interest.

“Although National Insurance contributions will rise in April to fund social care costs, initially most of that additional money is going to the NHS – at a time when demand for social care continues to rise.

“The County Council has already taken steps in Staffordshire – by itself and working with others such as the NHS – to improve recruitment and retention of home care staff but there is no doubt that in the short term a combination of rising demand and potential staff shortages is putting more pressure on the system.”

Notes Demand for adult social care in Staffordshire has risen sharply this year, with requests for assessments for people not currently receiving Council-funded care up 21 per cent on pre-pandemic levels to nearly 1,500 a month.

In 2020/21 the provision of adult social care comprises £226 million, or 40 per cent, of the County Council’s annual budget.

When provision of care and support for vulnerable children and young people is added, the provision of care for both groups is two-thirds of the Council’s budget