New care funding welcomed but more needed

Unveiling the local government finance settlement for 2018/19, housing, communities and local government secretary Sajid Javid recognised the need to prioritise spending on services for elderly and vulnerable citizens. In the spring Budget last year, adult social care was allocated an extra £2bn over three years. ‘We have seen how this money has enabled councils to increase provider fees, provide for more care packages and reduce delayed transfer of care,’ he said.

But in February he announced an additional £150m in support grant, taken from anticipated departmental underspends. ‘This will be allocated according to relative needs and we will expect to see councils use it to build on their progress so far in supporting sustainable local care markets.’

Mr Javid also acknowledged that a sustainable solution to adult social care funding was needed and the government would set out its proposals in a green paper in the summer.

Association of Directors of Adult Social Services president Margaret Willcox (pictured) commented: ‘All money is welcome and we will make the most of what we get, but considering councils need more than £2bn just to stand still in 2018/19, this is not going to make a great deal of difference.

‘It also depends on what they define as relative need. Will it be spent in areas struggling with delayed transfers of care? Or will other factors come into consideration?’