Adult social care
Counties urge Whitehall to ‘look again’ at social care funding formula
County councils have voiced concerns over the Government’s proposed formula for funding adult social care.
EXCLUSIVE: Sector fumes over lack of pre-Brexit briefing
Councils have threatened to walk away from Government attempts to engage with them on Brexit amid growing frustrations about the response to their concerns.
We need to rethink our attitudes to older ‘perennials’
The state and society should stop assuming everyone over the age of 55 is elderly, and target scarce resources in health and care on helping those who really are getting on a bit, the over-80s, says Michael Burton.
Using technology to make a real difference in social care
Mathew Kendall and David Rees outline how Barnet LBC is increasingly adopting technology-enabled care, integrated into a ‘strength-based’ approach. The early results have been positive.
Rotherham scandal continues to hit council finances
The aftermath of Rotherham’s child exploitation scandal continues to hit council finances with an overspend of nearly £16m in its children and young people’s directorate.
Making profound cultural change in social care
Sue Grace explains how a new case management IT system for staff supporting vulnerable adults and adults with learning disabilities has contributed to cultural change and transformed the working practices of Cambridgeshire's social care staff.
Hammond must not take the sector for granted
Chancellor Philip Hammond must ensure local government does not face a crisis similar to those in the prison service and justice system, says Michael Burton
MHCLG: Councils are not doing enough to prepare for Brexit
Councils are not doing enough to prepare for Brexit and need to step up their game, the concerned Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has told sector figures.
Health secretary seeking cross-party support for care funding
A range of funding options will be laid out in the adult social care Green Paper in a bid to find the method with the widest support, health secretary Matt Hancock has said.
Ministers accused of 'irrational policy-making'
Ministers have been accused of irrational policy-making by funding prevention in the NHS while forcing councils to focus on acute statutory services.
London's adult social care services need a long term solution too
Making a success of the NHS Long Term Plan and providing high-quality care to Londoners all depends on the resilience of adult social care over the next decade, according to Ray Puddifoot
New social care chief joins Nottinghamshire CC
Nottinghamshire CC has appointed a new corporate director for adult social care and health.
FoI and the hidden side of safeguarding
FOI responses show more than half of the councils approached had reported incidents in the last three years of staff not following safeguarding guidance. But context is crucial to understanding what the data may be saying
The longer-term solution to home care's problems requires more than money
Simon Bottery says the decline and fall of Allied Healthcare has not been the disaster some feared. The iceberg straight ahead is workforce and the longer-term solution requires not just money but better, outcomes-based commissioning approaches.
When care cannot cope
Care provider Allied Healthcare may have found a buyer for its business, but Glen Garrod warns pre-Christmas uncertainty may lead some staff to walk away and some councils could transfer their contracts to other providers or bring them ‘in-house’
Over-40s care tax could net £15bn
A tax levied on people aged over 40 could raise £15bn per year for social care, according to new analysis.
Allied urges councils to consider ‘disruption’ before ending contracts
Allied Healthcare has attempted to reassure councils of its long-term future following its takeover.
Ombudsman concerned over council care policies as complaints increase
Council systems and policies are increasingly to blame for a surge in complaints over charges for social care, according to the ombudsman.
Economic value of social care tends to slip under the radar
The social care Green Paper must set out proposals that recognise the need to develop a motivated, skilled and properly remunerated workforce, says new chairman of the Association of County Chief Executives Anthony May
How to balance budgets while creating happiness
Most councils are struggling to balance their social care budgets, but Wigan MBC generated a small surplus while radically remodelling services. Donna Hall shares her journey