More than nine in 10 councillors from across the country and political spectrum have called on government to give greater priority to social care and start committing more resources to it now.
Councillors also overwhelmingly (95 per cent) recognised the important role of councils in supporting and working alongside local communities to ensure people have the support they need to live good lives, according to a Survation poll of more than 600 for Social Care Future, supported by the LGA.
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Social care has been on the frontline throughout the pandemic and there has never been a more crucial time to find a long-term solution to how we support all those who draw upon and work in these vital services.
“As this survey proves, local councillors of all political colours are overwhelmingly in favour of social care being a major priority for the Government, along with the funding needed to not just get through the pandemic, but to build back better from it.
“As Social Care Future states, we all want to live in the place we call home, be with the people and things that we love, in communities where we care about and support each other, doing the things that matter to us.
“This is the role of social care and 94 per cent of councillors agree with this vision.”
The LGA co-signed a letter to ministers in June, stressing the importance and urgency of adult social care reform.
In addition to a timetable for reform, the letter calls for an immediate injection of funding to provide short-term stability, a new deal for the care workforce, action on equalities and levelling up, and an innovation fund to help councils harness the potential of technology.