The LGA has called on the Government to find £13 billion for adult social care, amid warnings that one in five care workers are living in poverty.
Former Prime Minister Liz Truss assured councils during her leadership campaign that she would find £13 billion for the sector to replace the health and social care levy, which she abolished.
Social care is in dire need of a comprehensive rescue package, according to the LGA, with waiting lists of more than 500,000 for care assessments and care and vacancies estimated to be over 165,000 across all roles in the sector.
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Social care’s lack of capacity to deliver the care that people need to live their life is being seen in higher waiting lists and people not getting the care they need, with impacts on the NHS. The Government needs to step in now.
“If it doesn’t, we can expect one of the most challenging winters in recent times, with severe knock-on effects that will continue to significantly impact on people and their loved ones.”
Recent reports have underlined the fragile state of social care, with the charity the Health Foundation reporting that one in five residential care workers are living in poverty, and Skills for Care’s annual report identifying a record 165,000 care staff vacancies.
“Ensuring that care workers are paid fairly for their work is central to making a career in care affordable and appealing, as well as ensuring people who draw on care are best able to live an equal life,” said Cllr Fothergill.
“This is why we have called on the Prime Minister to deliver on her pledge to provide £13 billion. Of this, £3 billion is needed to improve care worker pay and help recruit and retain staff.”