10.10.17
LGA predicts ‘perfect storm’ for social care following CQC report
Councils fear that the social care sector faces a ‘perfect storm’ if historic underinvestment continues into the future, the LGA has stated.
In response to regulator the CQC’s State of Care report, the LGA has asserted that the research is yet another warning of the precarious state of social care in England.
The report maintains that, whilst there is an overall improvement in care across the country, the situation is still not at an acceptable level and social care particularly needs improved forward planning.
The LGA response refers frequently to social care issues which were a central part of the CQC document, where it was revealed that 19% of adult social care practices in the UK were rated as ‘requires improvement.’
Sir David Behan, chief executive of CQC, commented: “The future of the social care system is one of the greatest unresolved public policy issues of our time – a long term sustainable solution is urgently required.
“The anticipated green paper on adult social care will provide the opportunity for Parliament, the public and professionals to consider how we can collectively develop an appropriately funded social care system that can meet people’s needs, now and in the future.”
Cllr Izzi Seccombe, chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board called on the government to bring forward consultation on the issue saying “pre-election momentum must be maintained.”
The chairman pointed to the upcoming autumn budget and suggested it be used to deal with the problem, quoting an annual funding gap of £2.3bn by 2020 despite a £2bn injection in the spring statement.
Seccombe said: “It is encouraging that the vast majority of adult social care services were rated good, and that services have improved on last year, which is a massive achievement given the unprecedented pressures across the system.
“Social care faces a perfect storm, and the CQC report is yet another timely warning from a key part of the sector, of the need to resolve the short and long-term future of care as an urgent priority.”
The report was released today and deals in both adult social care and general health.
A CQC report in May also found that three-quarters of care homes which had been rated as inadequate in the two years leading up to 2016 had improved the quality of care they delivered.
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