Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Accepted
Paragraph: 61
While the changed timetable for rolling out Section 18(3) will help to stagger the additional...
Conclusion
While the changed timetable for rolling out Section 18(3) will help to stagger the additional assessments local authorities will need to conduct, we are nevertheless concerned about local authorities’ capacity to conduct tens of thousands of additional assessments, particularly given the size of the backlog that already exists. We are further concerned that the Government’s proposed workarounds will place additional strain on those requesting care and care workers, and could lead to an inconsistent service being provided and an increase in complaints. The Government’s re-evaluation of the combined impact of its charging reforms, Section 18(3), and the fair cost of care should include a revisiting of the recruitment and training needs of assessors.
Government Response Summary
The government states it is committed to addressing the pressures facing social care and continues to provide significant additional grant funding to councils.
Paragraph Reference:
61
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government is committed to addressing the distinct pressures facing social care and that is why we continue to provide significant additional grant funding to councils, alongside the contribution which local authorities deem appropriate. In 2020–21 we introduced a new Social Care Grant then worth £1.4 billion. It was increased to £1.7 billion in 2021–22 and £2.3 billion in 2022–23. For 2023–24, we recognise the significant inflationary and demand pressures facing social care. In response to this, we are providing around £2 billion in additional grant funding for social care through the Settlement for 2023–24. This includes £1.3 billion made available through the Social Care Grant from delaying adult social care charging reform, £300 million of new discharge funding distributed using the existing Improved Better Care Fund (IBCF) grant shares given that it must be pooled as part of the BCF, and £400 million of ring fenced funding for adult social, which will be combined with the existing £162 million in Fair Cost of Care funding to create the Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund (MSIF). Government response 17 This increase in grant funding for adult social care, and flexibilities in Council Tax, will support councils to meet pressures. The final Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) for 2023–24 makes available up to £59.7 billion for local government in England; this is an increase of £5.1 billion in Core Spending Power. Councils are best placed to make local decisions to meet pressures and ensure social care supports people to be independent and lead enriched lives, and therefore it is for individual local authorities to determine the level of flexibility they use in setting Council Tax. The government expects that councils will keep in mind the pressures on households when setting Council Tax. We recognise that different places have different abilities to raise local Council Tax income from the ASC precept. In response, we make an adjustment to offset these differences so that areas less able to raise Council Tax income receive a greater share of grant, called equalisation. We have done so since the ASC precept was introduced and will continue to do so in 2023–24. Conclusion 16 – multi-year funding settlement Conclusion 16 - One-year funding settlements and short-term grants are hampering local authorities’ ability to plan and to deliver value for money, which in turn affects local care markets as it makes it more difficult for local authorities to enter longer term contracts with providers.