Care service trends across the UK

The Institute for Government’s recent report about the delivery of adult social care across the UK reveals some interesting findings……..

The survey found that social care is now provided to a smaller percentage of the UK population now than it was 10 years ago.

England spends less on homecare than it did in 2010 whilst the other devolved nations now spend more. Across the UK, the homecare provided consisted of more intensive care packages as less care is delivered in a care home setting.

There is evidence that local authorities have been able to manage with smaller budgets by raising the needs threshold at which people are eligible for care and so offering services to fewer people.

The report also found that the amount of time that care workers spend with users has reduce with an increasing proportion of home care visits lasting less than 15 minutes.

The report covers the period before the pandemic.