This page provides an overview of social care in Barking and Dagenham, along with key metrics that could affect social care. Understanding these metrics is important because they help contextualise the challenges with social care provision in each local authority. These statistics are important to keep in mind when reviewing the other pages.
Why are these metrics important? Population size and density can affect the demand for social care services. For example, if a local authority has a high population (relative to other areas), it may need to allocate more resources to meet care needs. Similarly, areas with high population density may require more care services due to the increased number of people living in close proximity. Inversely, areas with a low population density may have fewer care needs, but residents may face challenges accessing services due to the distance between them. Lastly, people in rural areas might live further away from services, which can impact their ability to access care, or make it more expensive to provide.
Understanding these metrics can help local authorities plan and allocate resources effectively.
Deprivation decile is a measure of the level of deprivation in a local authority. It is calculated by ranking areas in England from 1 (most deprived) to 10 (least deprived) based on factors such as income, employment, education, and health. A higher decile indicates lower levels of deprivation, while a lower decile suggests higher levels of deprivation. Understanding deprivation levels can help local authorities identify areas that may require additional support and resources to address social care needs.
IMD 2019 for the Lower Tier Local Authorities: Barking and Dagenham
Deprivation rank is a measure of the relative deprivation of a local authority compared to other areas in England. It is calculated by ranking areas from 1 (most deprived) to 32,844 (least deprived) Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOA), which can be thought of as “small areas”. This rank is based on factors such as income, employment, education, and health. A lower rank indicates higher levels of deprivation, while a higher rank suggests lower levels of deprivation. Understanding deprivation ranks can help local authorities identify areas that may require additional support and resources to address social care needs.
IMD 2019 for the Lower Tier Local Authorities: Barking and Dagenham
Many people want care, some receive care, but a significant number go without. What types of care are being requested? What care is actually provided? This section explores the gap between need and provision, the types of care available, and how our own data contributes to the understanding of these challenges.
Access Social Care and other Helplines providers are working to bridge this gap by providing free legal support to people who are struggling to access social care services. This first chart illustrates the types of calls we are getting.
The rest of this page distingushes between the different types of care provided to Working Age People and Older People, as we are able to disaggregate at a greater level of granularity.
Note: these values are a work in progress… expect these numbers to go up
This plot shows a breakdown of the types of requests for assistance received by Access Social Care and other helplines. Understanding the themes of these calls can identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of calls related to housing may indicate a need for more affordable housing options, while a high number of calls related to social care assessments may suggest a need for improved access to care services. The request types are:
Assessments: An assessment is a meeting or form to find out what help someone needs with daily tasks.
Care Plan: A care plan is a written agreement that lists the support you’ll get and who to contact if things change.
Carers: Carers are people who help a disabled or ill person with daily tasks.
Charging: Charging refers to checking if you can afford to pay for some of your care based on your savings.
Information Seeking: Information seeking means getting advice about available care options.
Legal Issues and Complaints: Legal issues and complaints involve reporting problems with your care to the council or an ombudsman.
Safeguarding: Safeguarding is protecting people from abuse or neglect.
Of course, high numbers also mean that people know where to call, and this number can be impacted by advocacy efforts. As a counterpoint, areas with low numbers may indicate a lack of awareness of available services or a need for more outreach to connect people with support.
To protect privacy, our minimum bin size is 5, which means that if we field 1-5 queries on a topic, we display 5.
Are you a helpline and would like to combine data resources? Let us know!
Access Social Care casework, AccessAva data, and helpline partner submissions
Working Age People
Knowing how many people are requesting social care, how many people are recieving care and what percent of people are disabled helps understand need and social care provision at a top level. For example, a high number of people requesting care may indicate a need for additional resources or services, while a low number of people receiving care may suggest a gap in service provision. Understanding these metrics can help identify areas where additional support may be needed.
MW was diagnosed with Functional Chronic Pain, she cannot walk without support, she holds on to her furniture to move around the house. She uses a wheelchair, especially when she goes out, with support from friends and family. She lives on second floor with 5 flights because of the way the building is designed and there is no lift. She never goes out because of the difficulties she experiences with the stairs. She needs help with cooking, cleaning, shopping and showering. She relies on friends and her mum who has knee replacement.
She was referred by the Social Prescriber who referred her onto also referred her to Croydon Adult Support, they told her they are short of staff to allocate her a social worker, so she was placed on a long waiting list. MW case still hadn’t progressed until the Social Prescriber, who had been recently trained on the Care Act, referred her to Access Social Care’s free legal Chatbot letter clinic.
The legal clinic volunteer completed a letter to Croydon Council with MW within a week which was sent to Adult Social Services. Access Social Care then called her after two weeks to complete a follow up survey. MW informed them that she had had an assessment and was waiting to hear back from Croydon following the panel meeting. Social Services has now done the assessment after which the panel offered MW 9 hours of social care support.
This case study is based on real data from Croydon. Have a story to tell? Let us know, and we might display it here!
This plot shows the types of care provided to working-age people in Barking and Dagenham. Understanding the types of care available can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of people receiving personal care may indicate a need for more support with daily living activities, while a high number of people receiving respite care may suggest a need for additional support for carers.
ASCFR and SALT Data Tables 2023-24 Sheet T34
The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham has a slightly higher proportion of disabled people than the national average. The age-standardised proportion of disability in the borough is 17.9%, compared to the national average of 17.6%. This means that more people in Barking and Dagenham have disabilities than in other parts of England.
In 2024, there were 2,580 requests for care from adults aged 18 to 64 in Barking and Dagenham. This is equal to 1,160.6 requests per 100,000 people, which is slightly higher than the national average of 1,143.5 requests per 100,000 people. This suggests that more working age adults in the borough need support services compared to other areas.
A total of 1,345 adults aged 18 to 64 received care services in 2024. This is 605.0 people per 100,000 population, compared to the national average of 532.7 people per 100,000. This indicates that more people in this age group are getting care in Barking and Dagenham than in other parts of England.
Most people received care in the community. For example, 790 people received a local authority managed personal budget for community care. This is 355.4 people per 100,000, higher than the national average of 266.7 per 100,000. Additionally, 405 people received direct payments for community care, which is 182.2 per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of 122.2 per 100,000.
Fewer people were in residential or nursing care. Only 75 people were in residential care, which is 33.7 per 100,000 people, less than the national average of 60.6 per 100,000. Only 25 people were in nursing care, which is 11.2 per 100,000 people, slightly below the national average of 13.8 per 100,000.
Barking and Dagenham is a densely populated urban area. In 2021, there were 6,065.8 residents per square kilometre, much higher than the England average of 2,468.5 residents per square kilometre. The borough has a high level of deprivation, with a mean deprivation decile of 2.68, compared to the national average of 5.9. This means that many people in the area face economic and social challenges.
The higher number of disabled people and those receiving care services may be linked to the area's high deprivation and urban setting. More people are using community-based care, which suggests a need for services that support people to live independently at home. The lower numbers in residential and nursing care might indicate a preference for community care or limited availability of residential services.
Service providers may need to focus on expanding community care and support services to meet the higher demand. This could include increasing funding for direct payments and managed personal budgets, as these services are used more in the borough than elsewhere.
Barking and Dagenham has a higher proportion of disabled people and a greater demand for care services among working age adults. The data suggests that community care services are especially important in the borough. Considering the high population density and levels of deprivation, it is important for local authorities to ensure that adequate resources are allocated to meet the needs of disabled residents.
✨ ✅ ❌Older People
Just like with Working Age people, knowing how many older people are requesting social care, how many people are recieving care and what percent of the population is 65+ helps understand need and social care provision at a top level.
Jamaican female, blind and in her 40s. She was in an emergency Bed & Breakfast with her Niece, who acts as her unofficial carer, she is unable to work but would like to go to University. She is receiving PIP but not the Daily Living Allowance which she applied for in June 2021. She is vulnerable and has a history of self harm so was assigned a rehab Support Worker. Vanessa supported her using the Chatbot to chase up her PIP Daily Living allowance application, after waiting for several months and they received a reply within a week but was awarded the lower rate.
Another Chatbot letter was sent to request an urgent assessment due to her vulnerability and this was action quickly by the LA. Vanessa also supported her to use the chatbot and ask the Social worker to be moved to a place that supports her needs and rights. As she was having to use a shared bathroom, toilet and kitchen in a place with drug/alcohol abusers and being blind with no carer, this left her vulnerable. The Chatbot was used again to raise this issue and after a few weeks she was successfully moved to a private property in another area.
This case study is based on real data from Croydon. Have a story to tell? Let us know, and we might display it here!
As above, it is important to see what type of care older people are being provided because it can help explain where additional work is needed.
ASCFR and SALT Data Tables 2023-24 Sheet T34
Barking and Dagenham has a lower percentage of older people compared to the national average. Between 2019 and 2023, the proportion of older residents in the borough ranged from 8.72% to 8.85%. In contrast, the average for England was around 18.5% during the same period. This means that there are fewer older people living in Barking and Dagenham than in many other areas.
In 2024, there were 3,230 requests for care from people aged 65 and over. This is equal to 1,452.94 requests per 100,000 people. The national average was higher, at 2,437.85 requests per 100,000 people. This suggests that fewer older residents in the borough are seeking care services compared to the national average.
The number of older people receiving care in Barking and Dagenham was 1,715 in 2024, which is 771.45 per 100,000 people. The national rate was 1,002.86 per 100,000 people. This indicates that fewer older residents are getting care services in the borough compared to the rest of the country.
For nursing care, the rate in Barking and Dagenham was 123.70 per 100,000 people, slightly above the national average of 121.75. This shows that, while overall care rates are lower, the borough has a higher rate of older people in nursing care. On the other hand, the rate for residential care was 105.71 per 100,000 people, which is less than half the national average of 249.93. This may mean that fewer older residents are using residential care homes.
Barking and Dagenham is an urban area with a high population density of 6,065.8 people per square kilometre, compared to the England average of 2,468.5. The borough has no rural areas, while on average, 34.6% of England is rural. The population increased from 218,828 in 2019 to 222,308 in 2023. The high density might affect how services are delivered to residents.
The borough has higher levels of deprivation. The mean deprivation decile is 2.68, while the England average is 5.9. This means that many residents face economic and social challenges. Deprivation can impact health and access to services. Older people in deprived areas might have more health issues but face barriers to getting care.
The lower proportion of older people could be due to younger families living in the area or older residents moving elsewhere. The lower rates of care requests and recipients might suggest that older residents have less need for services. However, it could also mean that they are not accessing the services they need. Barriers like lack of awareness, cultural factors, or difficulties in accessing services might be affecting them.
The slight increase in the proportion of older people from 8.72% in 2019 to 8.85% in 2023 suggests a gradual aging of the population. As the number of older residents grows, the demand for care services may rise. It is important for service providers to plan for this change to meet future needs.
Given the high deprivation and urban setting, there might be specific challenges in delivering services. Services may need to be more accessible and tailored to the needs of the community. Addressing barriers to access and ensuring that older residents are aware of and can use care services is important.
In conclusion, while Barking and Dagenham has fewer older people than the national average, there are indications of a growing need for certain services like nursing care. The high levels of deprivation and urban environment present unique challenges. Planning and resource allocation should consider these factors to improve service delivery for older residents.
✨ ✅ ❌When government support falls short, unpaid carers step in to provide care. However, many struggle with burnout, financial pressure, lack of social contact, and a lack of support. This section explores the number of unpaid carers, their increasing workload, and what forms of support are available.
Carers play a vital role in supporting vulnerable adults, often stepping in to provide care when professional services are unavailable or insufficient. The percentage of carers receiving direct payments highlights financial empowerment, the number of carers accessing services reflects local authority outreach, and the number turning to charities underscores unmet needs. Together, these data points reveal systemic strengths and weaknesses: low direct payment uptake may push carers toward charities, while effective services can reduce dependence on charitable support. Understanding these metrics enables targeted interventions to ensure carers receive the recognition and resources they deserve.
Unpaid carers play a crucial role in supporting vulnerable adults, often stepping in to provide care when professional services are unavailable or insufficient. Understanding the number of unpaid carers in a local authority can be complicated. On the one hand, a relatively high proportion might be indicative of not enough being done by the local authority, and/or a strong community. On the other hand, a relatively lower number can mean good service provision, lower need, lower availability to look after family, or a problem with reporting.
Still, understanding the number of unpaid carers is a baseline number that must be considered.
NOMIS NM_2213_1
These values are widely considered to be an underestimate. See this report from Carers UK for more information.
August 2021 - Patient with dementia who lives in a shared lives setting. Carer had been requesting respite from the council since September 2020. Croydon Social Prescriber helped with a referral to the local authority in March 2021. Assessment conducted, with the promise they would come back with support, which did not happen. 25 August, social prescriber used the chatbot to find the right legal wording for the situation. The email was sent at 4.52pm that day. At 5.12pm the council contacted the carer to discuss the respite. This was the impact of one letter, addressed to a senior team.
This case study is based on real data from Croydon. Have a story to tell? Let us know, and we might display it here!
Social contact is important for carers’ well-being, as it can help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. Understanding the level of social contact that carers have can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a low level of social contact may indicate a need for more social activities or support groups for carers, while a high level of social contact may suggest that carers have a strong support network.
Survey of Adult Carers in England (SACE) - question 11
The type of support available to carers can vary significantly, impacting their ability to provide care effectively. Understanding the types of support available can help identify areas where additional resources may be needed. For example, a high number of carers receiving respite care may indicate a need for more support with caregiving responsibilities, while a low number of carers receiving financial support may suggest a need for additional financial assistance.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T47
Access to information is crucial for carers to navigate the social care system effectively. Understanding how easy it is for carers to get information can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of carers finding it difficult to get information may indicate a need for improved communication and support services, while a low number of carers finding it difficult to get information may suggest that existing services are effective.
Would you like social care information? Try our Chatbot!
Survey of Adult Carers in England (SACE) - question 17
Note: these values are a work in progress… expect these numbers to go up
Access Social Care and other Helplines help people with information, advice, and support related to social care. Understanding the types of calls received by carers can highlight areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of calls related to financial support may indicate a need for more financial assistance for carers, while a high number of calls related to respite care may suggest a need for additional support with caregiving responsibilities.
It is important to note that, just as in the previous section, low numbers of requests might indicate that people don’t know where to get help, don’t feel they can get (or deserve) help, or other outreach problems. This is particularly important because we often work with people where the role of a carer is not recognised, or where the carer themselves does not recognise their role.
Access Social Care casework, AccessAva data, and helpline partner submissions
Barking and Dagenham is a densely populated urban area in England, with a population of 222,308 in 2023. The population density is 6,065.8 people per square kilometre, which is much higher than the England average of 2,468.5. The area is also more deprived, with a mean deprivation decile of 2.68 compared to the national average of 5.9. This context affects the experiences of unpaid carers in the borough.
In 2021, there were about 6,503 unpaid carers per 100,000 people in Barking and Dagenham. This is lower than the national average of 8,203.68 unpaid carers per 100,000 people. The lower number might be due to the younger population in the area or cultural factors influencing caregiving roles. It could also mean that some carers are not identified or are not accessing available support.
By 2024, 33.5% of carers in Barking and Dagenham reported that they had as much social contact as they would like. This is higher than the national average of 29.3%. This suggests that carers in the area may have better access to social networks or community support. However, with only a third feeling satisfied, many carers still experience isolation.
About 54.5% of carers found it easy to get information about services in 2024, which is slightly lower than the England average of 59.3%. This indicates that nearly half of the carers face challenges in accessing information. Improving information services could help carers find the support they need.
The number of carers receiving direct payments is 137.2 per 100,000 people, slightly below the national rate of 149.93 per 100,000. This form of support allows carers to have more control over the assistance they receive. The provision of information and advice services is at 256.4 per 100,000, which is lower than the England average of 338.7 per 100,000. Enhancing these services could improve carers' ability to find help.
Only 6.75 per 100,000 carers receive no direct support, compared to the national average of 129.64 per 100,000. This suggests that most carers in Barking and Dagenham are accessing some form of support. However, support involving the cared-for person, like respite care, is provided at 22.49 per 100,000, which is below the national average of 70.01 per 100,000. Increasing respite services could help reduce stress and fatigue among carers.
The data indicates that carers in Barking and Dagenham have better social contact than the national average, but still face challenges with information access and support services. The lower number of unpaid carers might mean that some are not identified or supported adequately. Considering the area's high deprivation and urban setting, there is a need to improve support services.
Investing in better information services could help carers find and use available resources. Expanding respite care and direct payments may also provide carers with more flexibility and reduce their burden. Addressing these issues can improve the wellbeing of carers and those they care for, leading to a healthier community overall.
✨ ✅ ❌Care providers are essential for delivering social care services, including home care agencies and care homes. The quality of care they provide can vary significantly, impacting the well-being of service users. This section examines the number and types of care providers, their quality ratings, and some of the difficulties of maintaining high standards. Understanding these metrics is crucial for ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive high-quality care.
The number and types of care providers in a local authority can impact the availability and quality of social care services. Understanding the distribution of care providers directly influences people’s ability to get the care they need.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rates care providers based on their quality of care, safety, and effectiveness. Understanding the quality ratings of care providers can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of care providers with low ratings may indicate a need for improved training and support, while a high number of care providers with high ratings may suggest that existing services are effective.
Framework rates are the agreed prices that local authorities pay care providers for social care services, such as home care and residential care. These rates are crucial because they determine the affordability, availability, and quality of care in a city. If rates are too low, providers may struggle to sustain services, leading to workforce shortages, poor care quality, and limited access for those relying on council-funded care.
Understanding framework rates helps assess whether local authorities are adequately funding social care, ensuring fair pay for care workers, and maintaining a sustainable care market that meets residents’ needs.
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Several providers are finding it increasingly difficult to stay in business, and sometimes several providers collapse at once. For example, when pay rises are approved without consultation and effective immediately, providers may not be able to afford to pay their staff. This can cause a chain-effect which leads to collapse in the market, and a lack of care for those who need it.
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Workforce turnover rate is a measure of the number of staff leaving a care provider over a specific period. High turnover rates can indicate issues with staff retention, such as low pay, poor working conditions, or lack of training and support. Understanding workforce turnover rates can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed to improve staff retention and ensure high-quality care services.
NOTE: This data series is based on regional data
Staff retention is crucial for maintaining high-quality care services. Understanding the challenges faced by care providers in retaining staff can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of care providers struggling to retain staff may indicate a need for improved training and support, while a low number of care providers facing retention challenges may suggest that existing services are effective.
This dataset describes the results of a survey asking care providers about their challenges in retaining staff.
NOTE: This data series is based on regional data
Workforce_survey_data_tables, Tab 6_2
Vacancy rate is a measure of the number of unfilled positions within a care provider over a specific period. High vacancy rates can indicate issues with staff recruitment, such as low pay, poor working conditions, or lack of training and support. Understanding vacancy rates can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed to improve staff recruitment and ensure high-quality care services.
Recruiting staff is essential for maintaining high-quality care services, and for backfilling staff when they leave. Understanding the challenges faced by care providers in recruiting staff can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of care providers struggling to recruit staff may indicate a need for improved training and support, or can point to a systemic problem, such as low pay, poor working conditions, or not enough people interested in this job type.
Staff recruitment is important as it’s one of the areas that have levers to pull outside of social care, for example, by changing how many visas are awarded to social care workers.
NOTE: This data series is based on regional data
Workforce_survey_data_tables, Tab 6_2
Barking and Dagenham has 76 community-based adult social care services. This is more than the national average of 63.8. It means there are many services helping people in their homes and communities.
There are 21 residential social care providers in the area. This is less than the national average of 91. So, there are fewer places where people can live and receive care.
In Barking and Dagenham, 13.4% of care providers need improvement or are inadequate. This is better than the national average of 16.8%. It shows that most care providers in the area offer good services.
The turnover rate for staff is 19% in Barking and Dagenham, similar to the national rate of 19%. This means staff leave their jobs at the same rate as elsewhere.
About 56% of care providers find it more challenging to keep staff. This is less than the national average of 68.1%. So, retaining staff is a bit easier in Barking and Dagenham.
However, the vacancy rate is 18% in the area, which is higher than the national average of 8.4%. This means there are more open positions that need to be filled.
Around 68% of care providers find it more challenging to recruit new staff. This is less than the national average of 79.8%. Recruiting staff is somewhat easier, but vacancies remain high.
Barking and Dagenham has a population of 222,308 people. It is more densely populated than other areas, with 6,065.8 people per square kilometre compared to the national average of 2,468.5. The area is also more deprived, with a mean deprivation decile of 2.68, while the national average is 5.9.
The high number of community-based services might be because many people live close together, and there is a greater need for care at home. The lower number of residential care providers could be due to limited space for such facilities in a crowded area.
The high vacancy rate suggests that more staff are needed to meet the demand for care services. Even though it is less challenging to recruit and retain staff than in other areas, there are still many jobs unfilled. This could affect the quality of care people receive.
It is important to focus on recruiting and training more care workers in Barking and Dagenham. This will help fill vacancies and ensure that people get the care they need. Providing support and opportunities for staff could improve the situation.
Overall, Barking and Dagenham has many community care services and good quality providers. Addressing the staffing challenges will help maintain and improve care for residents in the area.
✨ ✅ ❌Historically, hospital delays have been due in large part, to the inability to discharge patients into social care. We no longer have DTOC data, but we can still look at the number of hospital delays and the number of facilities requiring improvement.
CQC, as the regulator of health and social care services in England, is beginning to rate Local Authorities on their social care provision. Understanding the CQC rating of a local authority should be used as the most official evaluation of service care provision. For example, a low rating may indicate a need for improved service delivery, while a high rating may suggest that existing services are effective.
Hospital delays can have a significant impact on patient care and outcomes, and are in large part the result of not having invested sufficiently in social care. Understanding the number of hospital delays in a local authority can be a sympthom of a poorly working social care sector. For example, a high number of hospital delays may indicate a need for improved discharge planning and coordination, not enough places to discharge people to, lack of sufficient staff to assess patients, or a lack of care providers.
Discharge-Ready-Date-monthly-data-webfile-November-2024, Tab UTLA Acceptable
This metric illustrates how long patients are delayed in hospital before being discharged. Higher average delays mean that patients are spending more time in hospital than necessary, which can lead to increased costs, reduced bed availability, and poorer patient outcomes. This also means that the beds are not available for people that might desperately need them for life-saving procedures.
Discharge-Ready-Date-monthly-data-webfile-November-2024, Tab UTLA Acceptable
Delayed Transfer of Care (DTOC) refers to the time between a patient being declared medically fit for discharge and actually leaving the hospital. Understanding the number of DTOCs in a local authority can help identify precisely where the social care system is failing.
Unfortunately, this dataset is no longer being generated.
Reablement is a short-term service that helps people regain independence and confidence after a period of illness or injury. Understanding the number of people receiving reablement services can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of people receiving reablement services may indicate a need for more support with daily living activities, while a low number of people receiving reablement services may suggest that existing services are effective.
Coming soon!
Service user satisfaction is a key indicator of the quality of social care services. Understanding service user satisfaction can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a low level of service user satisfaction may indicate a need for improved service delivery, while a high level of service user satisfaction may suggest that existing services are effective.
It is important to note that the people surveyed are already receiving service care. Notably absent are all the people that are not yet lucky enough to be receiving care.
Personal Social Services Adult Social Care Survey, question 1
Access to information is crucial for people using social care services to navigate the system effectively. Understanding how easy it is for people to get information can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of people finding it difficult to get information may indicate a need for improved communication and support services, while a low number of people finding it difficult to get information may suggest that existing services are effective.
Would you like social care information? Try our Chatbot!
Personal Social Services Adult Social Care Survey, question 13
An ombudsman is a person who has been appointed to look into complaints about companies and organisations. The number of cases received and decided by the Ombudsman is important because it provides insight into the volume of complaints about a local authority’s social care services and how effectively these complaints are being addressed. The number of cases received indicates the level of dissatisfaction or systemic issues within a council’s care provision, while the number of cases decided shows how efficiently the Ombudsman is processing and resolving complaints. A large gap between the two may suggest delays in complaint handling, leaving individuals waiting.
It is important to note that contacting the Ombudsman is widely considered a last resort, often discouraged, and sometimes penalised.
Barking and Dagenham is a borough in London with a population of 222,308 in 2023. The area is densely populated, with 6,065.8 people per square kilometre, which is much higher than the England average of 2,468.5. The borough faces higher levels of deprivation, with a mean deprivation decile of 2.68 compared to the national average of 5.9. This means that many residents experience economic and social challenges.
The percentage of discharges from acceptable trusts in Barking and Dagenham is 99.6%, higher than the national average of 89%. This suggests that most patients are being discharged from hospitals that meet quality standards. The percentage of discharges that are delayed is 4.3%, which is lower than the national average of 12.3%. The average delay per discharge is 0.29 days, less than the national average of 0.7 days. These figures indicate that the borough is effective in managing hospital discharges, with fewer delays and shorter waiting times.
The proportion of respondents who said they were satisfied with their care and support is 63.6%, slightly below the national average of 64.7%. This suggests that while many people are content with the services they receive, there is room for improvement. According to another source, NatCen, dissatisfaction with social care in the borough is 57%. Without a national comparison, it's hard to assess how this figure stands, but it highlights that over half of respondents have some level of dissatisfaction.
In Barking and Dagenham, 71.2% of people using services feel it's easy to find information about services. This is higher than the national average of 68.2%. Good access to information helps people understand what support is available and how to get it, which is important in a borough with higher deprivation levels.
Data on complaints received by the ombudsman per 100,000 people is not available for Barking and Dagenham. The national average is 4.45 complaints per 100,000 people. Without local data, we cannot assess this aspect, but it highlights the importance of monitoring complaints to understand service quality.
Barking and Dagenham performs well in managing hospital discharges, with fewer delays and efficient processes. This may be due to good coordination between health and social care services. In a densely populated and deprived area, efficient services help meet the high demand and support residents effectively.
Satisfaction with care and support is slightly lower than the national average. This could be influenced by the challenges associated with deprivation, such as higher demand for services and limited resources. Understanding why people are dissatisfied can help the borough address these issues and improve services.
Having a higher percentage of people finding it easy to access information is positive. It suggests that the borough communicates well with residents, helping them to find the support they need. This is important in areas where people might face more barriers due to deprivation.
Barking and Dagenham shows strengths in managing hospital discharges and providing information to residents. These are important aspects of quality care. However, the slightly lower satisfaction levels indicate areas where services could improve. By focusing on understanding residents' needs and addressing their concerns, the borough can enhance the quality of care and support provided. Considering the higher levels of deprivation and urban density, careful planning and resource allocation are essential to meet the needs of the community.
✨ ✅ ❌We need to understand how much money is being spent on social care, and what this provides. First, let’s look at values reported by local authorities.
Gross Current Expenditure (2023-24) captures the total operational cost of services, indicating overall demand and financial commitment. This includes spending on residential and non-residential care, direct payments, and other social care services. Understanding gross expenditure helps assess the scale of social care provision and financial pressures on local authorities.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
This figure reflects the net cost of social care provision to the local authority, indicating the extent of financial support required to meet service demands. Understanding net expenditure helps assess the financial sustainability of social care services and the commitment level of the local authority.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Client Contributions, otherwise known as “Charging”, show the extent to which service users offset costs. Understanding client contributions helps assess the financial burden on individuals and the local authority, highlighting the need for fair and equitable funding mechanisms.
It is important to note that not all local authorities charge for social care services, and that charging can be a barrier to accessing care for some individuals.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Income from NHS reflects external funding and collaboration with the health sector. Understanding NHS contributions helps understand the level of integration between health and social care.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Budget Cuts indicate financial constraints and potential service reductions. Sometimes, budget cuts are explicit, but other times, they aren’t mentioned directly, making tracking this information difficult to access.
As such, this data is not consistently available for all local authorities.
Access Social Care have made a series of Freedom of Information requests about the government’s own assessment of sufficiency of social care funding. The social care sector is in crisis, yet the government refuses to disclose how it determines funding sufficiency. Without transparency, there is little accountability, no independent scrutiny to improve decision-making, and government trust heavily impacted. Evidence from across the sector indicates a severe funding gap, but without open data, meaningful reform remains impossible. True solutions require honesty about the scale of the problem to then work towards a fair and equitable funding model.
The government appears to know how much money is required for social care, and yet they are not making that known.
✨ ✅ ❌?
Barking and Dagenham, a borough in East London, has distinctive social care needs due to its population characteristics. With a high population density of 6,065.8 residents per square kilometre in 2021, compared to the England average of 2,468.5, the area faces unique challenges in providing social care services.
In 2024, the gross total expenditure on social care in Barking and Dagenham was £39,952.68 per 100,000 people, which is lower than the national average of £47,758.16 per 100,000 people. This suggests that the borough is spending less on social care compared to other areas in England. Given the higher levels of deprivation, with a mean deprivation decile of 2.68 (where 1 is most deprived and 10 is least deprived) compared to the England average of 5.9, this lower spending may not fully meet the needs of the local population.
The net total expenditure, after accounting for income from sources such as client contributions and NHS contributions, was £34,723.01 per 100,000 people in Barking and Dagenham. This figure is also below the national average of £40,471.81 per 100,000 people. The lower net expenditure may reflect budget constraints or efficiencies in service delivery, but it could also indicate underinvestment in essential social care services.
Client contributions in Barking and Dagenham amounted to £5,229.67 per 100,000 people, which is less than the national average of £7,286.35 per 100,000 people. This lower contribution from clients may be due to the higher levels of deprivation in the area, as residents may have less ability to pay for services. With a mean deprivation rank of 7,244.5, significantly lower than the national average of 17,686.4, many residents may rely more heavily on publicly funded social care.
NHS contributions to social care in the borough were £10,027.88 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average of £7,878.45 per 100,000 people. This greater input from the NHS could be a response to the higher health and social care needs associated with the area's demographic and socio-economic profile. The reliance on NHS funding may also reflect gaps in local authority funding for social care services.
It is noted that data about budget cuts is not available. The absence of this information makes it challenging to assess the full impact of financial pressures on social care provision in Barking and Dagenham. There is an indication that the government is aware of the required funding levels for social care but may not be fully transparent in communicating this information.
The combination of lower gross and net expenditure, lower client contributions, and higher NHS contributions suggests that social care services in Barking and Dagenham may be under strain. The high population density and higher levels of deprivation increase demand for social care services, which may not be adequately met by current funding levels. This situation has implications for service delivery, potentially leading to unmet needs among vulnerable residents.
In conclusion, Barking and Dagenham faces significant challenges in social care provision due to its dense population and higher deprivation levels. The borough's lower spending on social care compared to national averages, alongside limited client contributions and reliance on NHS funding, indicates a need for increased investment and attention to resource allocation. Addressing these issues is crucial to ensure that the social care needs of the residents are adequately met.
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