Hft and Care England partner up to analyse challenges in the adult social care sector

Hft, a national learning disability charity, and Care England, which represents independent providers of adult social care in England, have announced its partnership to deliver Sector Pulse Check 2022, a report analysing the impact of challenges facing the adult social care sector with a focus on financial health.

Since 2016, Hft has produced an annual Sector Pulse Check report. Based on analysis of a survey for care providers, the report provides a yearly snapshot of the financial health of the social care sector, helping monitor trends in social care and providing vital data to illustrate ongoing challenges to Government.

Having previously focused on learning disability services, Hft has this year partnered with Care England to expand the scope of the survey to include older persons’ care. As a response to the unprecedented and mounting challenges facing care providers, this year’s Sector Pulse Check will be the first to provide a comprehensive overview of the financial health of the entire adult social care system. Hft and Care England are calling on adult social care providers to share their experiences and help ensure the true state of the sector can be represented to key decision makers.

Aside from the regular focus on financial health, the themes in this year’s survey include an exploration into the state of the workforce and the implications of the rising cost of living, two of the most pressing issues facing the sector.

With the final report due for release in the Spring, the latest edition of Sector Pulse Check will be a landmark publication for the sector. Informed by representative data at a national level, the findings will constitute a valuable evidence base to support conversations with key stakeholders over the actualisation of immediate and long-term financial sustainability.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive at Care England, said: “We are delighted to be joining forces with Hft on its annual Sector Pulse Check. Having provided invaluable insight into the state of the learning disability sector for a number of years, identifying the challenges facing providers and how these pressures have evolved, the expansion of this year’s survey to include older persons care represents a landmark opportunity to understand the financial health of the entire adult social care system. It is vital that we have data to help understand and illustrate the unprecedented challenges facing the sector and that is exactly what the Sector Pulse Check 2022 will deliver.

Care England have repeatedly called on Government to deliver a sustainable future for the sector. Without robust evidence, however, these conversations over improved funding settlements will only go so far. We have a new Government and a new opportunity – Care England are encouraging all adult social care providers to take part in this year’s survey to ensure it delivers the impact the sector so desperately needs.”

Kirsty Matthews, Chief Executive of Hft, said: “We are thrilled to be broadening our important research to all adult social care providers this year. The current financial uncertainty and the problems around workforce retention are compounded by increasingly rising costs coming over the course of the coming months.

“Without seeing a correlating uplift in Government support or Local Authority fees, care providers will have to find a way to shoulder the cost. With the 2021 Sector Pulse Check research highlighting that 43 per cent of providers had to cease part of their offering or hand back care contracts due to financial pressures in 2021, we are highly concerned that the current circumstances will force more of this ‘last resort’ action.

“Our new research within the sector will help to highlight the issues our sector is facing.”

Hft recently recently stated that excessively high vacancy rates in the adult social care sector will have profound consequences for those relying on care as they will not always receive the support they need, while providers will be placed under huge financial strain as they are forced to use costly agency staff.