Social care plays a vital role in supporting the wellbeing of people, families, and communities around the country, yet the system faces significant challenges with increasing demand, unmet need, rising costs and a fragile provider market.
Reform is essential to manage further increases in cost and demand. 63% of councils in England overspent on their adult social care budgets in 2022/23. Over 80% of councils overspent on children’s services in 2021/22, with a national overspend of almost £1bn. Planning for and managing the delivery of such volatile, demand-led services is far from easy, especially when resources are scarce. More and more local authorities are citing social care as a primary driver in the difficulty to balance budgets.
How CIPFA can help
CIPFA's expertise and unique position in local government means we can work with you to link financial management with the best outcomes for your community.
Contact us
To discuss how we can help you address the issues around your social care services please contact William Burns: william.burns@cipfa.org.
CIPFA Thinks
Highlights of our health and social care content from CIPFA Thinks.