Jennie Smith’s Post

In debate on #socialcare funding, it's all too common to hear that fundamentally rethinking how public spending on social care is allocated locally and regionally is just too big a change to contemplate. However, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is set to launch a consultation next month on long-term proposals to shift to a fairer system of local government finance which matches funding with need. It's vital that this work is tied deeply into the emerging 10-year plan of Department of Health and Social Care and the government's emerging thinking about a #nationalcareservice. https://lnkd.in/eHNT_85Z

Adult Social Care and Children's services typically form 2/3rds of a local authority budget, is where the overspend is greatest, is where demand continues to increase, and will be where heart-breaking budget cuts are likely to target. Yet, this can be addressed through planning. When thinking health, always thing health protection, health promotion and health care. On the protection front, address physical and behavioural barriers that might limit positive social interaction and physical activity, remove hazards and improve living conditions in homes. This alone could significantly reduce the number of trips and slips that result in senior people entering hospitals, but not able to return to their homes as they are not suitable. On the promotion front, double down on the age, dementia and neurodiversity friendly design. This alone can facilitate healthy independent living for longer, and prevent, reduce and delay the need for clinical intervention and social care. Build in respite for families and carer's. SEND play facilities are often a life saver during the summer holidays, where children with a special need may be pushed out due to cost or environmental overload. Such play facilities are not only great for the kids, but offer respite to the family, and brings families with similar challenges together to share coping strategies and support. Then look at health and social care.... how can your project help enhance local capacity, reduce costs to the NHS and Local Authority, but also support the front line providers.

Prevention through planning for the future is critical and a total place transformation tool to reduce budgetary pressures over longer temporal periods and form new, innovative ways to address health and well-being in Place. Public Health and Planning are intertwined within the historical nature of planning over centuries - it's just been forgotten...for now...

News round-up: ‘staggering’ savings needed, social care at ‘breaking point’, council homes boost https://lnkd.in/ezn_wexB #budget #savings #overspend #socialcare #councilhousing #localgov #localgovernment

The Ontario government has allocated $3.7 billion less than what's needed to fund existing programs and its announced commitments in children, community and social services, the province's financial watchdog said in a report released Wednesday. The Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) estimates the province is short $0.7 billion in its budget for Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) spending for 2024-25, which will grow to $1.2 billion by 2025-26 and $1.8 billion in 2026-27.  The ministry is responsible for delivering the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Works (OW), which are its two largest income support programs. The FAO predicts the programs, along with other financial and employment support spending, account for the bulk of projected spending growth.

Interesting post from Mr Patrick- I’ve just been on the Shropshire County Council website and will share the balance sheet that is included in the Council’s latest Statement of Accounts for 2023/24 This shows that the Council’s Gross Assets are over £1 billion and its net assets are £750 million ie 3/4 of a billion pounds. If the Council does enter into “ bankruptcy “ who gets to administer those assets day to day I wonder? As the Council are in effect holding capital assets on trust for Salop Council Tax and Business Rate payers perhaps those assets should be transferred into a Community Interest Company that administers them on behalf of Salopians to ensure that the best rate of return possible is being generated for those vulnerable Adults & Young people within the County. The worry must be that if the Government just stumps up more cash to those currently running the council it will simply be putting in “ good money after bad”. I’ll share the link showing the Councils Land & Property Assets in a moment - there is a very nice interactive property “ terrier” which shows what real estate assets the Council owns & controls. And also a good article from the local paper showing how many rough sleepers there are in Shropshire atm ; how many households in temp Accomodation and how many Shropshire children in temporary Accomodation Watch this space

Increasing pay in adult social care will wipe out much of extra Budget funding, warns Moody’s https://lnkd.in/ee48q8Hc #socialcare #localgov #localgovernment #localgovernmentfunding #Moodys #budget #funding

📉 Zoë Crowther at PoliticsHome reports that a quarter (24 per cent) of Conservative councillors think their local authority receives insufficient funding to meet its statutory duty service level requirements for adult social care. This was found through polling carried out by Savanta for Labour Together. 🗣️ Conservative Councillor George Perfect, Deputy Leader of the Opposition at Medway Council in Kent, said: “The increasing need in recent years across both services, coupled with major workforce challenges and high inflation, means even with authorities receiving above inflation increases in income (across all revenue streams) it isn’t sufficiently meeting need.” 🏛️ Failing public services are at the top of many voters’ concerns ahead of this week’s local elections. However, adult social care often makes up most of council expenditure. Research from The King's Fund has already recommended that the health and care system should shift from a focus on hospital care to primary and community services if it is to be effective and sustainable. #adultsocialcare #funding #localgovernment https://lnkd.in/e2Av-2Gf

"Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s decision to scrap planned changes to the care system in England has been described as a "tragedy" by Sir Andrew Dilnot, the man who authored the proposals in 2011." ICYMI, yesterday the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, confirmed that the new Labour Government has scrapped planned changes to the care system that were originally due to come into effect in October 2023 and were then postponed to October 2025 by the previous Conservative Government. The social care plan would have introduced an £86,000 cap on the amount an older or disabled person would have to pay towards their support at home or in care homes from next October. After spending £86,000 on their care, people with a high level of need would have had their care costs paid for by local authorities. The threshold for getting some council support to pay for costs, before exceeding the cap, would also be made more generous, with people with assets up to £100,000 able to qualify, rather than £23,250 currently. Setting aside the political aspect of the Government's decision, a further delay to the reform of adult social care in England is yet another snub to the hundreds of thousands of care providers across the country who ensure that the most vulnerable members of our communities receive the care and support they need on a daily basis, as well as to those people receiving care themselves and the nearly two million dedicated care staff who work in adult social care. As the member organisation for adult social care providers in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Cheshire, Partners in Care calls upon all political parties in Westminster to work together to deliver the necessary reforms to ensure that adult social care is adequately resourced, not just now but for the future. #socialcare #timeforchange https://lnkd.in/gr3P-Mq3

Good news for local councils - Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has announced a £600 million support package to help councils across England deliver crucial services. This additional funding reflects a commitment to easing the pressures faced by councils amidst challenges like high inflation and global instability. The package includes an extra £500 million for the Social Care Grant, addressing concerns raised by councils about social care budgets. All councils will also benefit from a minimum 4% increase in Core Spending Power, demonstrating the government's dedication to protecting local taxpayers and supporting essential services. Councils play a vital role in our communities, and this funding aims to ensure they can continue their incredible work. How do you think it should be prioritised to benefit the community? Share your thoughts below! #LocalGovernmentSupport #CommunityFirst #CouncilsInAction #SocialWorkers #SocialWork #SocialWorkjobs