Who do we mean by working age and lifelong disabled adults receiving adult social care? How do adult social care services support people with disabilities? There has always been a proportion of adults in society who have additional needs or who are vulnerable. Nearly everyone will at some point in their lives experience a physical or mental health condition that reduces their ability to carry out day-to-day activities (such as a broken limb, a cold or flu, or a period of lower mental health). However, a smaller proportion will experience a physical or mental health condition through which they will experience such an impact for 12 months or more. In 2021, the Office for National Statistics identified that 17.8% of the population of England and Wales were disabled (as defined by the Equality Act and able to be medically diagnosed), equating to over 10 million people xi . This group of people includes those with a disability and entering older age, where frailty and declining health is met with a different lifestyle and an increasing need for support, but also includes those with different needs at younger ages. Some individuals with disabilities will require support from social care services. This is typically offered to those with a higher level of need – less than 10% of the total 10 million people reported to have disabilities in England and Wales xii . Whilst these individuals may additionally receive support from the NHS for any medical factors relating to their condition, adult social care’s goal is to ensure individuals live a fulfilling life, where they are able to realise their potential to contribute to their local community xiii (rather than treating their condition). Adult social care does this by providing support to help adults of all ages with physical or learning disabilities and autism, mental illnesses, or substance misuse. This can either come from helping them directly or by supporting their carers and networks.
Purpose of this report The programme of work was commissioned by the County Councils Network (CCN) and delivered in partnership with representative groups from across the health and social care sector. It has been supported by Newton, who has gathered the evidence and insight presented. The purpose of the programme of work has been to: • Raise the profile of the key issues faced by individuals aged 18–64 with a disabled condition (known as working age adults) and individuals aged 65+ with lifelong disabilities. • Understand the impact on outcomes being achieved, and if these outcomes are being achieved in the most effective way. • Understand the likely changes to demand coming into the system. • Analyse in detail the different cohorts of these adults receiving adult social care and identify recent trends such as age, deprivation, and changes in package costs. • Recommend cohorts which might require initial focus of local intervention and national policy. • Provide a series of recommendations and priorities for local action and national reform. In short, this report – the first output from this programme of work – aims to put these individuals at the centre of the national conversation on social care and help start a conversation about the key topics and issues that can make a meaningful difference to people’s lives . It has also sought to put forward a series of local and national recommendations for how these individuals can be better supported in a way which improves their life outcomes, while also maximising the use of limited resources. This is particularly timely given the new Government and the proposed Royal Commission on social care, and as a result this report seeks to inform both.
Adult social care and public health services also support many people with alcohol, drug and other substance use issues – these issues can also be a significant factor alongside other presenting issues, and although not the focus of this study, do have an impact on individuals’ needs, risks, and associated costs. Who do we mean by working age individuals supported by adult social care services are older adults above the age of 65 whose needs have increased, often from declining physical health and frailty, and increasingly from conditions such as dementia. There is a crucial interdependency between adult social care and the National Health Service in supporting this population. This has and will always be a significant group within the health and social care system, and continued innovation and reform is required to ensure that the system is adapting to the changing needs of the people requiring support. However, almost half (40%) of people receiving adult social care support are either: and lifelong disabled adults? A significant proportion (over 60%) of • individuals aged 18–64 with a disabled condition (a learning disability, a physical disability or a mental health condition) who make up the working age adult population, or • individuals aged 65+ with a lifelong disabled condition (a learning disability or long-term mental health condition). These individuals (who will be termed ‘working age and lifelong disabled adults’) are the focus of this report.
This report begins by describing the historical background to how public services have supported working age and lifelong disabled adults. In this context, Section 4 offers an evidence base which makes the case for opportunities to achieve better outcomes for these individuals. The report then considers the system supporting working age and lifelong disabled adults, with Section 5 exploring the key drivers of cost for support for working age and lifelong disabled adults, while Section 6 analyses the likely changes to demand coming into the system, specifically from transitions to adulthood for 18–25-year-olds. Section 7 of the report then looks in detail at the different cohorts of working age and lifelong disabled adults receiving adult social care support. In doing so, it identifies the most significant recent trends in terms of age, ethnicity, deprivation, support type, and package cost. It suggests specific groups of individuals who require the greatest local and national focus when it comes to opportunities to improve outcomes and reduce cost. Section 8 provides a consolidated summary of the key findings from this analysis, and the report concludes with Section 9 which offers a set of recommendations and priorities for local action and national reform.
18
HOME
HOME
19
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs