Just one in eight directors of adult social care services in England are confident they have the resources to meet their responsibilities this year, a new survey by The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass) has found.
The councils who responded also warned of existing challenges of increasing need, fragile care markets, and underpaid, undervalued, and overstretched workforces across the sector. Adult social care is also being compounded by the rise in inflation, the cost-of-living crisis, lack of community services, and breakdowns of unpaid care.
A growing number of directors told Adass that they have "never been more concerned than they are about the winter to come" and that they are braced for their "most challenging" year yet ahead.
Adass president Sarah McClinton said: "Adult social care has long been in a fragile state, but growing economic turbulence is rapidly deepening our problems and concerns. We need action and funding now to support recovery in social care, just as in the NHS, and build firmer foundations for the reforms we all want to see."