Public Expenditure - Health Committee Contents



MEMORANDUM BY THE ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF ADULT SOCIAL SERVICES (PEX 26)

BACKGROUND

  The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) represents Directors of Adult Social Services in Local Authorities in England. As well as having statutory responsibilities for the commissioning and provision of social care, ADASS members often also share a number of responsibilities for the commissioning and provision of housing, leisure, library, culture, arts and community services within their Councils.

  ADASS members are jointly responsible through the activities of their departments for the well-being, protection and care of their local communities and for the promotion of that well-being and protection through the use of direct services as well as the co-ordination of and liaison with the NHS, voluntary agencies, private companies and other public authorities. ADASS members have leadership responsibilities in Local Authorities to promote local access to services and to drive partnership working to deliver better outcomes for local populations. They participate in the planning of the full range of council services and influence Health Service planning through formal and informal Local Strategic Partnership arrangements.

  ADASS welcomes the opportunity to contribute to Health Select Committee Inquiry into Public Expenditure. This submission does not seek to comment on all the areas set out in the inquiry. It concentrates on those areas within the inquiry which focus on adult social care.

STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT

What level of commitment is national and local government making to Social care, and how does it compare with long term trends of demand, cost and efficiency?

  Adult Social Care is the second largest area of local authority spending after education (including schools). If school budgets are excluded, adult social care is the largest single budget within the control of local authorities.

  Total gross expenditure by local authorities on adult social care in 2008-09 was £16.6 billion. Of this £2.2 billion was funded through client contributions. Net expenditure is £14.4 billion.

  Broadly 62% of this net expenditure is funded via Government grants and 38% from council tax payers. However, funding for overall social care and support for adults is much more complex with:

    — Services funded in partnership with other agencies notably Primary Care Trusts.

    — Services funded through Supporting People that can either provide the housing related support element of a service users combined care and support package or provide preventative services to individuals who would not meet the Fair Access to Care (FACs) criteria.

    — Allowances and benefits paid directly to individuals, most notably through the Department of Work and Pensions. Attendance Allowance (AA) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) are directly assessed through the Fairer Charging regime.

    — Support from the Independent Living Fund (ILF) although recent decisions will affect this funding source and put more pressure on local authority services for those who have a disability.

    — Support for other elements of an individual's "holistic" personal needs including that from the Learning and Skills Council and transport related support.

  These arrangements are also complex for the service user. An individual in receipt of a social care package is likely to be receiving another form of support. An illustrative example, based on an adult with physical disabilities in a supported accommodation scheme, is set out in the diagram below.


 
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Prepared 14 December 2010