Adult social care
Money for something
The Spending Round announcement last week seems a positive move for the sector on the face of it, but raises questions over the the future balance between central control and local discretion says David Phillips.
Be careful what you wish for on new revenue sources
In one province in Canada, integration has clearly not provided the complete answer to what is a financial hole familiar in the UK, says Michael Burton. But we don't have cannabis sales to help plug the gap.
Three thoughts on Brexit
Claire Kober offers three thoughts on Brexit - and says that as fantasy politics grips Westminster and Whitehall, it’s time for local government to do what it does best: delivering ambitious solutions to everyday challenges.
Ticket to independence in Lancashire
Helping adults with physical disabilities and those over 65 stay healthy and independent for longer is a key challenge. But there are ways services can change to ensure people’s lives are transformed for the better. Louise Taylor explains
Elderly people 'could die' in the event of a no-deal Brexit
A no-deal Brexit, if it happens, could result in the deaths of elderly people, according to the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Lib Dem group leader.
Brexit planning: putting people first
For Bristol, the risks of Brexit run in to ‘several millions of pounds’, explains the Mayor Marvin Rees. While he says the city is being proactive, he calls on the government to take a number of steps to help.
Fixing social care is a crucial mission for all of us
A new analysis by London Councils shows the capital’s adult social care funding situation is ‘simply unsustainable’, with a shortfall of £540m expected by 2025, says Cllr Ray Puddifoot.
Boosting jobs for older workers could alleviate social care costs
Social care needs more funding, but the state is missing a trick if it fails to increase employment rates among the more active retirees, says Michael Burton.
Under pressure
The tragedy of local government is that over a decade of pressure, the urgent has crowded out the important and the big picture has been obscured by the struggle to survive. Dr Jonathan Carr-West asks: how do we move from ‘better’ to ‘different’?
Only devolution can protect public services from years of Brexit chaos
Andrew Laird argues that only a renewed and rapid drive to devolve power to cities and local areas can protect local public services from years of Brexit inspired central government inaction and chaos.
Time to evaluate the real cost of an ageing population
Recent reports have established that frail old age probably does not start until 80-plus and that more pensioners continue to work - and this gives an opportunity for public policy to be updated, says Michael Burton.
The risks and value of the care home market in Torbay
Torbay Council wants to influence the size and make-up of its residential care home market for older people. Ann McGauran summarises a case study included in the Local Government Association’s Productivity Experts Programme
Birmingham to scrap controversial care service reorganisation
A long-running industrial dispute between Birmingham City Council and care workers is expected to end after reorganisation plans were dropped.