Recommendation 18

The Department for Health and Social Care is drip-feeding numerous policy changes in adult social care, many of which are welcome, but many of which will have a significant impact on local authorities in terms of their spending and capacity. These include the cap and new means test, commencing Section 18(3) of the Care Act 2014 in respect of residential care, the fair cost of care, reforms in the People at the Heart of Care White Paper around housing, data, and assurance, and reforms in the Joining up Care for People, Places and Populations White Paper around health and care integration. We understand that local authorities are working closely with central government on these reforms. But we are concerned that the Government does not have a handle on what the total impact on local authorities will be. The 76 Long-term funding of adult social care Government should publish a new burdens assessment by the end of the year to determine the level of resource needed by local government in terms of staff, expertise, and funding to deliver the full package of adult social care reforms. (Paragraph 77) People at the heart of care: the direction of travel for reform