Report makes NHS takeover of social care warning

A new report has strongly argued that social care should remain being delivered by local authorities rather than giving increased control to the NHS or central government.

Commissioned by the County Councils Network, the report claims that only councils, working with the NHS and providers, can deliver the much-needed, wide-ranging blueprint for services that supports individuals to live as independently as possible. It says that a new blueprint for delivering social care in England could help tens of thousands of adults each year who need care and support to live more independent lives.

The report follows reports last year that the government was considering stripping councils of their responsibility for care services, exploring the option of care budgets and commissioning becoming the responsibility of the NHS.

However, the CCN report outlines new ways of working and improved practices for local authorities, care providers and the NHS in what care specialists Newton terms an ‘optimised local delivery model’ to help transform services for many of the 1.4 million people who approach councils each year for local authority arranged-care in England.

Newton says that this can be achieved through a mix of interrelated improvements, including better long-term commissioning of residential and home care; greater collaboration between councils, the NHS and care providers; investment in reablement services; maximising the use of the voluntary and community sector; and embracing digital transformation.

However, the report warns that this model can only be delivered if councils are given the clarity of a long-term funding model for care, due to be outlined in the government’s long-awaited green paper, and services remain under local democratic control. The Local Government Association estimate that by 2025 there will be a funding gap in adult social care of £3.6 billion just to maintain services.

For service improvements to be realised, Newton outline several ‘foundations’ that must be in place through the government’s long-awaited social care reforms. These include setting out plans for a long-term funding solution for adult social care. Parity of esteem with the NHS is also called for, with social care getting a more prominent voice in local decision-making, and more campaigning to raise the positive profile of the sector with the public.

David Fothergill, health and social care spokesperson for the County Councils Network, said: “This year, we could finally see the government’s long-awaited proposals for reforming care services in England. This must set out a long-term funding solution but also be clear over who is best placed to deliver services for the most vulnerable in our communities.

“The evidence presented in this report is compelling: only councils, who know their populations and their providers, have the means to deliver improved social care services to keep people independent for longer. Social care is best delivered as a local service and local authorities have the connection to their communities to truly transform local care for the better.

“This report recognises that if government finally delivers sustainable funding for councils, we can work with health partners and care providers to deliver improved commissioning and financial benefits which could be reinvested in local services. In exchange for more funding and local decision making over services, a new co-designed performance framework could also help provide reassurance to government that these improvements are being met.”

Daniel Sperrin, director at Newton said: “Through our experience we know that delivering adult social care is complex and multi-faceted. Crucially, it must recognise the local place and communities in which it operates. To create the optimised model, we have engaged with over 150 individuals - including those working in the delivery of social care - but also health leaders; providers of care; policy colleagues, digital experts; and crucially those with lived experience of social care.”