Health Management and Policy Alert

Sector pulse check: the impact of the changes to the social care sector in 2019

Hft - 
According to this report, the number of social care providers who say they have been forced to cut support for vulnerable adults has doubled in the last 12 months as a direct result of financial pressures. The report also highlighted that providers are taking action to promote positive mental health within their organisations, and that the sector recognises the benefits of technology.

• Report
• Hft - press release

Ownership in social care: why it matters and what can be done

New Economics Foundation -
This report argues that, if government increases funding for adult social care, care users and workers should benefit rather than the owners of increasingly large private firms. It puts forward the view that the crisis of care is not only one of funding, but also of provision, with most services run for private profit and increasingly by globalised chains. It sets out a number of recommendations for national and local government to support the development of new and existing democratic models of ownership.

• Report
• New Economics Foundation - press release

Adult social care statistics in England

Office for Statistics Regulation - 

This report sets out the findings from a review of adult social care statistics in England. Adult social care is a large and important area which requires strong evidence to support effective policy development, delivery of care and personal choice. While there is rightly a focus on delivery, a scarcity of funding has led to under investment in data and analysis, making it harder for individuals and organisations to make informed decisions. This review highlights three main areas for attention: better leadership and collaboration; gaps in available data; and improving existing official statistics. 

• Report
• Press release

Adult social care and wellbeing policy in the four nations of the UK

University of Sheffield - 

This review summarises main policy developments on wellbeing in the field of adult social care since 2000 in the four nations of the UK. It is the first paper from the Sustainable Care: Connecting People and Systems programme from the Centre for International Research on Care, Labour & Equalities (CIRCLE) at the University of Sheffield. The programme’s overarching objective is to advance understanding of sources of economic and social sustainability in care, especially how wellbeing outcomes can be achieved for care users, their families and carers and paid care workers.

• Review
• Sustainable Care programme

General election 2019 polling for the Health Foundation: public perceptions of the NHS and social care

The Health Foundation -
This Ipsos MORI survey was commissioned by the Health Foundation for the 2019 General Election. It suggests that people are willing to pay more tax to maintain and improve health and social care. The public also highlighted a lack of investment in the NHS and long waiting times as the top issues facing the health service, followed by an insufficient and overworked workforce.

• Report
• The Health Foundation - publications

Estimating need in older people: findings for England

Age UK -
This report outlines how ill health, poverty, unmet needs for care and support, poor housing, loneliness and social isolation are profound challenges for many older people. It estimates the numbers and percentages of people aged 65 and over in England with these disadvantages, and collates insights from older people’s own voices about the experience of living with them.

• Report
• Age UK - publications

UK healthcare property market overview: autumn/winter 2019

Knight Frank - 
This report provides market intelligence that gives a snapshot of trends in health and care property markets. It contains data on the market performance of care homes market performance. 

• Report

Will I care? : the likelihood of being a carer in adult life

Carers UK -
Figures contained in this report show that two thirds of UK adults can expect to care unpaid for a loved one in their lifetime. The research also reveals that the average person has a 50:50 chance of caring by the age of 50. It finds that, on average, women can expect to take on caring responsibilities over a decade earlier than men. Half of women will care by the age of 46, compared to half of men who can expect to care at 57.

• Report
• Carers UK - news

Help with home adaptations: improving local services

Care & Repair England -
This guide includes a Home Adaptation Challenge Checklist, a list of possible questions that anyone with an interest in improving delivery of home adaptations will find useful in discussions with local providers. It aims to help members of Older People’s Forums, Councillors and disabled people’s groups to work with their councils to review local provision - for example helping speed up the time it takes to install home adaptations and adopting best practice.

• Report
• Care & Repair England - news

Plugging the leaks in the UK care home industry: strategies for solving the financial crisis in the residential and nursing home sector

Centre for Health and the Public Interest - 

This report identifies where each pound that goes into the care home industry ends up by using a forensic study of the accounts of over 830 adult care home companies, including the 26 largest providers. If finds significant levels of leakage of money from front-line care, including to profit, rental bills and debt repayments. The companies examined have a combined income of £10.4bn, representing 68 per cent of the total estimated market value for independent providers in 2017.

• Report
• More detail