As you read this we will be slowly beginning to come to terms with the General Election result…

No, Westminster hasn’t been hung drawn or quartered. But the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) has identified for the new Government a number of priorities which adult social services directors believe must be faced up to if the fabric of social care is to be maintained and, in some ways, restored.

The sector has, over the past few years suffered an overall 26% reduction in funding: the ADASS and the Local Government Association together reckon there is a £4.3bn shortfall to be made good by 2020. And all the signs are that, in fact, this latter figure could be an underestimate. So, top of the list of things we urge the new minister and Secretary of State to do is seek a funding settlement for social care which makes up for the losses as far as possible, gets ready for future demand and aligns in an integrated way with a fully protected NHS budget.