Technology
Funding the future: what the social care plan means for you
While digital solutions alone will not solve the challenges facing the care sector, there has never been a better time for providers to future-proof themselves by investing in technology, as Fran Kirke, OneAdvanced’s VP of care, explains
The government recently launched the adult social care commission and one thing is clear – big changes should be on the horizon for care providers. But what does this actually mean for your organisation? Before we dive into it, it is worth briefly
covering what exactly has been announced. The government has set out to invest in improving the adult social care sector with an additional £86 m being promised on top of the budget’s existing social care fund, taking the annual total to £711 m. This is set to work alongside the earlier
Plan for Change announced in December 2024, that aims to support older people to remain out of hospital and at home for longer, and support those with disabilities to help keep them living independently at home too. As well as these steps to reduce pressures on social care, the government has also stated they are planning long-term reformation of the sector. 2026 is primed to be phase one of the plan, where critical issues and recommendations will be identified for medium-term improvements. The second phase will be due in 2028, where long-term transformations of adult social care are due to be outlined. So, is it great news? Well, yes and no.
The specifics of the commission – timing, distribution, and conditions – remain frustratingly vague. And for care home providers, while these announcements are clearly welcomed, it shines a spotlight on the existing (and likely growing) tension
March 2025
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
between improving care delivery and maintaining financial stability going forward. Because as you may well be thinking, many organisations simply cannot afford to wait for answers. And with technology expected to play a vital role in fulfilling these plans (such as a shared digital platform to be developed so up-to-date medical information can be shared between NHS and care staff), it is clear that this is a topic care home providers will have at the forefront of their minds.
Why all this matters for your financial stability
While the new announcements of course place a key focus on those needing care, I cannot help but recognise that it fails to adequately acknowledge what the commission means for care providers and how this opportunity should offer a helping hand so organisations like yours can be financially healthy and in business in the
Investing in technology may feel like a risky step in these conditions
medium to long term, so those requiring care can actually receive it. It is no secret that the social care sector
has been under increasing financial strain for some time now, and care home providers have felt this acutely. Staffing shortages, sizable running costs, and the pressures to provide personalised care to an increasing population add up fast. The recent Sector Pulse Check 2024 has highlighted key financial pressures faced by care providers today, one of which being a significant challenge around workforce costs. Their survey found that 95.8 per cent of care providers place the increasing National Living Wage (NLW) as one of their biggest financial burdens. The report also highlighted that over two thirds of providers have looked at internal efficiency savings – such as adapting their model of care or target group – to cope with financial pressures. And three in 10 providers have closed parts of their service or even handed care contracts back as a way to manage costs.
But it does not end there. The report further stressed just how concerned care providers are about their medium-term financial stability. In 2023, 19 per cent of
21
PeakPoints/
peopleimages.com -
stock.adobe.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50
