“Our state-funded social care system is in calamitous, quite rapid decline,” said director of Age UK Caroline Abrahams in January. Then in March, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass) stated that unless funding is protected, state-funded adult social care services in some parts of England could become “almost impossible” by 2020.
With adult social care budgets cut by 12% since 2012, at a time while demand has risen by 14%, services are under great and increasing pressure. And, given that the general election is rapidly approaching, it’s a good time to look at how five years of austerity have affected social care and what the future may hold.
We’ve put together a panel of experts to discuss these issues, and will cover:
- The new models of care that have emerged as a result of austerity, particularly integration
- How the aims of the Care Act are affected by austerity
- The effect on service users
- Whether the use of technology could be the answer to reduced funding – and some of the risks that go with digital services
- How recruitment and retention has been impacted by austerity – and how morale has been maintained among remaining staff
- The impact of devolved budgets, such as in Greater Manchester, where health and social care are being brought together
- The post-election outlook
The discussion will take place on Monday 20 April between 12:30 and 2pm. The discussion takes place in the comments section below this article. You can create a free Guardian account, or log in using your Twitter or Facebook profiles to comment. Alternatively, you can tweet us @GdnSocialCare or email Ruth Hardy, who will post your questions for you.
Panellists
to be updated as panellists confirm
Dyane Aspinall, assistant director, adult social care and health, Liverpool city council
Ray James, director of health, housing and adult social care at Enfield council and incoming president of Adass (the association of directors of adult social services)
Peter Beresford, professor of social policy at Brunel University and chair of Shaping Our Lives
Nina Osborne, individual employer
Stephen Lowe, policy adviser on social care, Age UK
Gareth Crossman, executive director of policy, communications and fundraising, The Adolescent and Children’s Trust (Tact)
Neil Polson, business development, local government, TotalMobile
Richard Humphries, assistant director, policy, The King’s Fund
Sue Brown, vice chair of the Care and Support Alliance and head of policy at Sense
Discussion commissioned and controlled by the Guardian, hosted to a brief agreed with Liverpool city council. Funded by Liverpool city council
