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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