Hft and Care England have launched their annual Sector Pulse Check survey which aims to analyse the challenges faced by the adult social care sector.
Every year, the report provides a snapshot of the financial and workforce demands faced by providers, and this year, the report will also look at what the care sector expects of the new Labour government.
Last year, the report revealed that 43% of providers closed services or handed back contracts and one in five (18%) offered care to fewer people. Energy prices were also a significant source of financial strain with costs rising by 350%, while the vast majority (84%) said funding initiatives from the previous government made no difference to the financial viability of their organisation.
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive at Care England, says since the new government has broken its promise on social care reform, it as never been more vital that the government has a ‘clear view’ of what is happening in social care.
“As ever, financial and workforce challenges remain a top priority within the sector. In addition to renewing our focus on these important topics, this year’s survey is also exploring new themes that have become increasingly pertinent over the past 12 months, such as impacts of the ban on dependants of social care workers, and the high increases in the National Living Wage.
“This year’s report will further help us understand provider’s perspectives on new Labour Government reforms, notably the creation of a National Care Service and a Fair Pay Agreement,” he said.
The two charities are now calling on all adult social care providers to complete the survey and share their experiences to ensure the true state of the sector can be represented.
The Sector Pulse Check survey is aimed at senior leadership or management level teams who provide care to people over the age of 18.
With the sector undergoing continued financial and workforce challenges, Steve Veevers, Chief Executive Officer at Hft, says the survey could not come at a more ‘pertinent time’.
“There wasn’t a great deal of mention of social care in the Labour manifesto prior to the election. This means we, as a sector which is providing care day in and day out, need to work with leaders of the newly formed Department of Health and Social Care, as well as local commissioning bodies, to make sure they understand the scale of the problem and the quick wins and long-term solutions. We need to help them understand the structural issues we are facing and the results from the survey will underpin the sector’s asks.
“Through our joint report with Care England, we aim to bring the government face to face with the reality experienced by providers in order to illustrate the true scale and impact of 14 years of systemic underfunding and kicking the can of social care reform, truly has had on providers,” he said.
