Health Management and Policy Alert

A ‘radically realistic’ vision for adult social care

The King's Fund - 

There has been a collective failure to deliver reform of adult social care in England for at least two decades. It has left a system struggling with a series of problems: an overly-stringent means test; catastrophic costs; unmet need; patchy care quality; poor workforce pay and conditions; a fragile provider market; disjointed care; and a ‘postcode lottery’ of access.

• Long read

 

Making homes fit for ageing and caring

Care & Repair England - 

This report  reviews the consequences of Covid-19 and associated ‘lockdowns’ for older people in England with particular reference to their housing, health and well-being, and considers the post-pandemic housing policy implications.

• Report
• More detail

Assessment of the evidence of the financial benefits provided by almshouses

Almshouse Association - 

This report, commissioned from the Housing Learning and Improvement Network (Housing LIN), investigates the financial benefits almshouses provide to society. The key findings of the report are: £43m total financial benefit per year; almshouse residents are less likely to use domiciliary care; residents make less GP appointments and are less likely to visit A&E; and almshouse contribute to local economies through their staff and volunteers with an estimated value of £56m.

• Report
• More detail

 

The local government finance system in England: overview and challenges

National Audit Office - 
Local authorities in England provide a broad range of universal services, with targeted services for the most vulnerable in society. They are funded through multiple funding streams, including government grants, taxes, and charges for services. This overview looks at what local government in England spends, how this spending is funded and the effect of changes in recent years. It includes analysis of spending on both public health and social care.

• Report
• National Audit Office - publications

Why social care is losing the 'generation game' in recruitment (and what can be done about it)

The King's Fund - 

Simon Bottery explores reasons for the lack of younger workers in social care and finds snapshots of innovation among providers trying to reverse the trend.

• Read the blog

 

A radical new vision for social care: how to reimagine and redesign support systems for this century

The Health Foundation -
In this report, the author points to examples of the forms of care and support she believes are needed to turn current thinking about care and the care system on its head. It calls for a new framework that could allow these models to grow.

• Report
• The Health Foundation - publications

Adult social care in England (Covid-19): a review of the 2020 to 2021 winter plan and subsequent actions – what more should be done?

Department of Health and Social Care -
This report forms The Social Care Sector Covid-19 Support Taskforce's independent review of the government's winter plan 2020 to 2021 for the adult social care sector in England.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

State of caring 2021: a snapshot of unpaid care in the UK

Carers UK -
This research reveals that over one in five unpaid carers (21 per cent) are worried they may not cope financially over the next 12 months. This is in addition to concerns about practical support, where just 13 per cent of carers are confident they will get the practical support they need in the next year. The situation has worsened during the pandemic with a quarter of carers (25 per cent) spending more on equipment or products for the person they care for. The financial strain is also damaging carers’ mental health with over half (52 per cent) reporting they feel anxious or stressed about their finances.

• Report
• Carers UK - press release

Supporting people with dementia and their carers

House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee - 

This report into dementia care criticises the government plans for the health and care levy. In the Committee’s view, the levy provides insufficient funding for social care over the next three years and fails to spell out how the sector will benefit from the levy after that. 

• Report
• Press release

Paying people who receive benefits: co-production and involvement

Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) - 

This briefing for local authorities, charities and organisations that support people who use services and their carers, looks at how people and carers who receive state benefits can get involved in paid co-production, involvement, participation in health and social care, highlighting what they need to be aware of to avoid any loss of benefits.

• Briefing
• More detail