Adult Social Care Precept Survey

We would like to ask you some questions about the Adult Social Care Precept. Before you start to answer the questions, please read through the following Q&A.

What is the background to the proposed changes?

  • Over the nine years up to 2019/20, Central Government funding to councils across England was reduced.
  • Over the same period more people have needed to use Children’s and Adult Social Care services. This means the Council has had to prioritise these services even though the overall budget has reduced. These pressures are continuing to rise.
  • To partly address budget shortfalls in previous years the Council has made efficiencies and cuts – including the removal 500 jobs - a reduction of 1 in 5 in the total number of people the Council employs.
  • It has been recognised for many years that a sustainable national funding system is needed for Adult Social Care similar to the NHS.  We have been waiting for Central Government to propose how this might work since they announced they would be reviewing the system in 2017.

Has Covid-19 had an impact?

  • The Covid pandemic has highlighted the critical role Adult Social Care services play in looking after our most vulnerable residents – either in their own homes or residential care homes – and how this role is key to reducing pressure on the NHS.

What did the Chancellor say in the 2021/22 Budget about funding for councils?

  • On 25 November 2020 the Chancellor informed parliament “that the economic impact of coronavirus, and the action we’ve taken in response, means there has been a significant but necessary increase in our borrowing and debt. The UK is forecast to borrow a total of £394 billion this year.  The highest recorded level of borrowing in our peacetime history”.

Against this background the Government has only provided a one year Spending Review and the Government has stated councils “will have access to an additional £1 billion for social care next year”.

Is the additional £1 billion all provided by Government?

  • No, only £300 million will be provided by Government and this is for both children’s and adult social care. The Government has told Councils to raise the remaining £700 million through the Adult Social Care Precept.

What does this mean?

  • If we do not apply a 3% Adult Social Care Precept we will need to reduce our expenditure by either reducing or stopping vital local services or introducing new fees and charges. As we have already made significant cuts in previous years this will be extremely difficult and further cuts will have a visible impact.

Key facts

  • Around 5,500 people in Hartlepool are supported by Adult Social Care. This includes 700 people who are living in 24 hour residential or nursing care.
  • The majority of people who are supported, around 3,800, are over 65 and 1,700 are aged between 18-64 – this includes people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, sensory loss, mental health issues and carers.
  • Adult Social Care supports people to continue to live in their own homes:
    • over 3,000 people have access to 24/7 telecare support;
    • 182,000 hours of home care are provided per year;
    • over 5,300 pieces of equipment to support independence are provided.
  • The Council also responds to over 1,100 adult safeguarding concerns each year.

Now we are now going to ask you a series of questions. The responses to some of these questions will be used to help us lobby Central Government for a better and fairer system for funding social care services. Others will help us to understand your views on the Adult Social Care Precept. Finally, there will be a series of ‘About You’ questions which will help us to understand your views and how reflective they are of the wider population in Hartlepool.

CLICK HERE TO HAVE YOUR SAY

The survey - which closes on Tuesday 22nd December 2020 - should take around 3-5 minutes to complete.