The ADASS Autumn Survey Report demonstrates that the financial pressures facing adult social care are intensifying. It will not be a surprise to anyone working in adult social care that an astonishing 81% of councils are likely to overspend on their adult social care budget this financial year. With only £600 million promised to adult and children’s social care in the Autumn budget, we’re not sure the maths is adding up. We estimate that non-profit specialist providers for working aged adults cannot fund the recently announced increases in employer national insurance contributions without an average 8% increase in payments for local authority contracts. And yet, the ADASS report presents a picture so challenging for councils, it is hard to envisage this being achieved. This leaves social care feeling like a complex maths puzzle with no solution, where people are left fighting to be seen amongst the figures. 

But we believe that the government can solve the puzzle.  

We join our colleagues in calling for not-for-profit social care to be protected from the increases in employers’ national insurance contributions, and we have ideas for how money can be freed up to help with this. As providers, we will always advocate for social care investment on behalf of those we support, so they can live good lives and contribute to their communities. However, as the 2024 ADASS Autumn Survey Report states, social care investment is not some act of generosity, but “crucial to our economy’s growth and productivity”. We hope the government will recognise the value we offer, to the economy, and most of all, the people we support, by protecting our sector from a financial hit we may struggle to withstand.