Title

SOCIAL CARE

Social care system is 'levelling down,' analysis warns

The quality of social care is worse in the most deprived areas, undermining the Government's levelling up agenda, new analysis has revealed.

The quality of social care is worse in the most deprived areas, undermining the Government's levelling up agenda, new analysis has revealed.

Research by the Centre for Progressive Policy think-tank found unmet care needs were more than twice as high in the most deprived places than in the least deprived places.

It argued the Government's social care reforms were 'severely lacking' as the money allocated for professionalising the workforce, recruitment and retention would only recruit an extra 11,000 care workers a year or provide just £108 per care worker per year.

Head of research at the think-tank, Ben Franklin, warned: 'The current social care system is a force for levelling down rather than levelling up and the Government's reforms will not change this.

'Presently, the costs of the system fall heaviest on those least able to bear them – poorer people in communities where unmet social care needs are higher and where the burden of providing care can result in a further cut to household income as informal carers are forced out of work or to reduce their hours.'

SOCIAL CARE

How councils will fare under Fair Funding 2.0

By Jonathan Meek | 04 September 2025

Simon Christian and Jonathan Meek analyse the impact of the Fair Funding Review 2.0 on different council types and highlight the winners and losers among the...

SOCIAL CARE

Shifting the levers of control to the local

By Max Wide | 03 September 2025

Max Wide says it is time to fundamentally alter the dynamics of the relationships between localities and the institutions that serve them, and he sets out fo...

SOCIAL CARE

Solutions to stop homelessness

By Jack Shaw | 02 September 2025

Some councils are exploring more innovative ways of delivering the sustainable use of temporary accommodation, including through prevention, Test, Learn and ...

SOCIAL CARE

Reform UK plan to overhaul LGPS sparks backlash

By William Eichler | 01 September 2025

Reforming the Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales (LGPS) could save taxpayers around £10bn, Reform UK’s deputy leader has claimed.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman