Shock news: councils cannot afford the Care Act 2014

It is perhaps unsurprising but important nonetheless.  More adults needs care and support and councils have less money to pay for it.  In their annual survey of local authority directors of social care ADASS explains that despite more generous revenue raising powers (principally concerning council tax) there will be a shortfall of over a £1b in adult social care budgets in 2016/7, in part because Councils must meet the cost of the new "National Living Wage."  

The consequences are obvious: less people will be supported, fewer disretionary services will be provided and the overall quality of care will deteriorate (see the extracts from ADASS's report below).  According to the directors, the solution is equally obvious - Central Government needs to make more funding available to local authorities. This does not seem likely, not least because the report does not account for the inevitable pressure Brexit will bring to the public finances.  

For those with complex needs and extensive care packages the implications of the funding shortfall could be dire.  Many lost funding when the ILF closed and will now see further cuts to their Peronal Budgets as well as a reduction in the number of providers willing to work for less.

The ADASS survey is here:  https://www.adass.org.uk/adass-budget-survey-2016-key-messages