A survey by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) found 81% of councils will overspend their adult social care budget in 2024/25 – a jump from 72% the previous year and 63% in 2022/23.
The overspend, which is based on figures submitted before the Budget, has reached £564m in 2024/25 which is slightly down from the £586m reported in ADASS' Spring Survey, but considerably higher than the £73.7m in 2022/23.
In 2019/20, before the pandemic, there was an underspend of £197m.
Reaction
ADASS President Melanie Williams said the £600m boost for social care in the budget was welcome but warned much of this would be used up by national insurance and wage increases.
Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Association's (LGA) Community Wellbeing Board, commented: ‘Immediate investment is needed in order to address unmet and under-met need and ensure timely access to social care for all who need it.'
Sarah Walter, director of the NHS Confederation's Integrated Care Systems Network (ICS), called on the Government to ‘commit to funding and delivering a workforce plan and reforms for the social care sector which will work in tandem with the government's plans for the NHS'.
UNISON head of care Gavin Edwards said: ‘Ministers must realise the urgent need for reform so those who depend on support can get help when they need it.'
Director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, Isabel Lawicka, added: ‘The NHS and social care are two sides of the same coin. As the national direction of travel shifts towards the delivery of a "neighbourhood health service", it is vital that we have a well-functioning, sustainable social care sector to work hand in hand with the NHS and wider system partners, delivering high quality care for all those who need it.'
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘We are committed to tackling the significant challenges facing social care, and we will work closely with the sector and across Government on our plans for effective reform. As part of this, we are also committed to building a National Care Service to ensure that everyone can get the care they need.'
