This page provides an overview of social care in Barnet, 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.
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.
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 Barnet. 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 percentage of people with disabilities in Barnet is 14.2%, which is lower than the national average of 17.6%. This means that fewer people in Barnet have disabilities compared to other areas. This could be because of the age structure in Barnet, with possibly fewer older residents who might have disabilities.
In 2024, there were 1,505 requests for care from working-age people in Barnet. This is 381 people per 100,000, which is lower than the national average of 1,143.48 people per 100,000. This suggests that fewer working-age people in Barnet are asking for care services compared to other places. This could mean that they have less need for care, or they might not know about the services available.
A total of 2,175 people aged 18 to 64 received care in Barnet in 2024. This is 550.62 people per 100,000, which is slightly higher than the national average of 532.68 people per 100,000. This shows that more people in this age group are getting care services in Barnet compared to other areas.
Different types of care were provided:
Nursing Care: 45 people received nursing care, which is 11.39 people per 100,000. This is a bit lower than the national average of 13.75 people per 100,000.
Residential Care: 225 people received residential care, which is 56.96 people per 100,000. This is close to the national average of 60.61 people per 100,000.
Community Direct Payments Only: 485 people received direct payments for community care, which is 122.78 people per 100,000. This is similar to the national average of 122.17 people per 100,000.
Community Part Direct Payments: 225 people received part direct payments, which is 56.96 people per 100,000. This is higher than the national average of 47.95 people per 100,000.
Community Managed Personal Budget: 1,200 people received care through a managed personal budget, which is 303.79 people per 100,000. This is higher than the national average of 266.67 people per 100,000.
Barnet's population has been growing, reaching 395,007 people in 2023. This is higher than the national average of 377,060.9 people. Barnet is also more densely populated, with 4,488.7 people per square kilometre compared to the national average of 2,468.5 people per square kilometre. This high population density might affect how services are delivered.
The area has a mean deprivation decile of 6.38, which is slightly better than the national average of 5.9. This means that Barnet is less deprived than other places. Only 0.12% of Barnet is rural, compared to the national average of 34.6%. This urban setting might influence the types of services needed.
The lower percentage of people with disabilities and fewer requests for care from working-age people might mean that there is less need for services, or it could indicate that some people are not accessing the help they need. It might be important to ensure that information about services is reaching everyone who could benefit.
The higher number of people aged 18 to 64 receiving care suggests that this age group has more demand for services in Barnet. The higher use of community care options, like managed personal budgets and direct payments, shows that people prefer receiving support in their communities. Services might focus on providing more of these options.
Because Barnet is densely populated and less deprived, services might need to be tailored to an urban environment. This could include making services accessible in busy areas and ensuring that resources are used efficiently. Policymakers might consider these factors when planning and allocating resources for disability services in Barnet.
✨ ✅ ❌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
The proportion of older people in Barnet has grown from 14.1% in 2019 to 15% in 2023. Even so, this is still lower than the national average of about 18.5%. This means Barnet has a younger population than many other places in England.
In 2024, there were 4,455 requests for care from people aged 65 and over in Barnet, which is about 1,128 requests per 100,000 people. The national average is higher at around 2,438 requests per 100,000. This suggests that fewer older people in Barnet are asking for care services compared to the rest of the country. This could be because they are more independent or have more support from family and friends.
There were 3,540 older people receiving care in Barnet in 2024, which is 896 per 100,000 people. The national average is slightly higher at 1,003 per 100,000. This shows that fewer older people in Barnet are getting care services. However, more older people in Barnet are receiving community care. For example, 2,215 people receive a council-managed personal budget, which is 561 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average of 508 per 100,000. This indicates that Barnet focuses on helping older people stay in their own homes.
In 2025, some older people in Barnet needed help with assessments, care plans, and charging. Requests for help with charging were 34 cases, or 9 per 100,000 people, higher than the national rate of 6 per 100,000. This might mean that cost is an issue for some older residents. The council may need to provide more support about care costs.
Barnet has a population of about 395,000 in 2023, which is higher than the national average. It is a densely populated area with 4,489 people per square kilometre, compared to 2,469 nationally. Barnet is mostly urban and less deprived than many areas, with a deprivation decile of 6.38 out of 10. This may influence the lower demand for care services.
In summary, Barnet has a younger and growing older population. Fewer older people are requesting and receiving care services compared to the national average. The focus on community care suggests that older people prefer to stay at home. As the older population increases, the council should ensure that services meet their needs and address any concerns about care costs.
✨ ✅ ❌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
In Barnet, the number of unpaid carers in 2021 was around 28,800. This is based on 7,406 unpaid carers per 100,000 people, with Barnet's population being 388,955. The national average is higher, with 8,203 unpaid carers per 100,000 people. This means Barnet has fewer unpaid carers than many other areas.
In 2024, 30.9% of carers in Barnet said they had as much social contact as they would like. This is slightly above the national average of 29.3%. While this is a positive sign, it still means that less than one-third of carers feel socially connected. This could be linked to the urban nature of Barnet, where people might feel more isolated despite living in a dense area.
Only 50.6% of carers in Barnet found it easy to get information about services in 2024. This is lower than the national average of 59.3%. This suggests that many carers in Barnet struggle to find the help they need. Improving access to information could support carers in their roles.
When looking at direct support, Barnet's numbers are often lower than the national averages. For example, only 2.5 carers per 100,000 people received direct payments, compared to the national average of 149.9 per 100,000. For information and advice services, 86 carers per 100,000 accessed them in Barnet, while the national average is 338.7 per 100,000.
Notably, 526 carers per 100,000 in Barnet received no direct support at all. This is much higher than the national average of 129.6 per 100,000. It indicates that many carers in Barnet might not be getting the help they need.
Barnet is a busy, urban area with a high population density of 4,488.7 people per square kilometre, compared to the national average of 2,468.5. The area has a slightly lower level of deprivation, with a mean deprivation decile of 6.38 out of 10 (the national mean is 5.9). This means Barnet is less deprived than some other places.
The lower number of unpaid carers could be due to the area's younger population or more people using paid care services. However, the carers who are present seem to have less access to support and information. This lack of support could lead to carers feeling stressed or unable to continue in their role.
To support carers in Barnet, improving access to information is important. Making sure carers know about the services available can help them feel less isolated and better supported. Increasing the availability of direct support services, like direct payments or respite care, could also help reduce the number of carers receiving no support.
Policy makers and service providers in Barnet might focus on outreach efforts to identify carers and connect them with resources. Given the urban setting, using community centers, local events, and digital platforms could be effective ways to reach carers.
Carers play a vital role in supporting those who need help. In Barnet, there is an opportunity to enhance support for carers by improving access to information and expanding support services. By addressing these areas, Barnet can help carers feel more connected and supported in their roles.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
?
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.
?
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
The London Borough of Barnet has a growing population. In 2023, there were 395,007 people living in Barnet. This is higher than the England average of 377,060.9 people. Barnet is also more densely populated, with 4,488.7 people per square kilometre, compared to the England average of 2,468.5 people per square kilometre.
In 2024, Barnet had 75 community-based adult social care services. This is more than the national average of 63.8 services. Community-based services help people stay in their own homes. This suggests that Barnet focuses on supporting people in the community.
Barnet also had 75 residential social care providers in 2024. This is fewer than the national average of 91 providers. This could mean that fewer people need to go into residential care in Barnet. It might also show that community services are meeting people's needs well.
Only 9.3% of care providers in Barnet needed improvement or were inadequate in 2024. This is lower than the national average of 16.8%. This shows that most care providers in Barnet offer good quality care. High-quality care is important for people's health and well-being.
The turnover rate for care staff in Barnet was 19% in 2023/24. This is the same as the London average. A lower turnover rate means staff stay in their jobs longer. This can lead to better care for people.
In 2023/24, the vacancy rate in Barnet was 6.8%. This is lower than the national average of 8.4%. Fewer vacancies mean there are enough staff to provide care.
About 56% of care providers in Barnet said it was more challenging or much more challenging to retain staff in 2024. This is less than the London average of 68.1%. For recruiting staff, 68% of providers found it more challenging, compared to 79.8% in London. This suggests that Barnet faces fewer staffing challenges than other areas.
Barnet has a higher mean deprivation decile of 6.38, compared to the England average of 5.9. A higher decile means less deprivation. This could lead to better health outcomes and less demand for some care services.
The lower proportion of care providers needing improvement might be linked to lower deprivation. People in less deprived areas often have better access to resources. This can support higher quality care services.
Barnet has a strong focus on community-based care. There are more community services and fewer residential care providers than the national average. Most care providers offer good quality care, with fewer needing improvement.
Staffing challenges exist but are less severe than in other areas. The turnover and vacancy rates are lower, and fewer providers report difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff. This may be due to Barnet's larger population and lower levels of deprivation.
Overall, the data suggests that Barnet is managing its care services well. The focus on community care and the quality of providers support the needs of its growing population. Continued attention to staffing and quality will help maintain these positive outcomes.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
Barnet, with a growing population of 395,007 in 2023, is a densely populated and relatively less deprived area compared to the England average. Despite its urban setting and demographic advantages, the latest data on quality improvement indicators reveal areas of strength and opportunities for enhancement in Barnet's care and support services.
In the 2024/25 assessment by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Barnet received a score of 64, slightly below the national average of 64.7, yet maintaining a status of "Good". This reflects a generally positive performance but indicates potential for further improvement to meet or exceed national standards.
Barnet excels in facilitating timely discharges from acceptable trusts, with a rate of 95.41%, surpassing the national average of 89%. This suggests effective coordination between hospitals and community services, minimizing hospital stays and promoting patient well-being. Additionally, only 8.24% of discharges are delayed, which is significantly lower than the national average of 12.3%. This efficiency may alleviate pressure on hospital resources and improve patient experience.
The average delay per delayed discharge in Barnet is 0.2668 days, considerably shorter than the national average of 0.7 days. The reduced delay times indicate that when delays occur, they are resolved more swiftly in Barnet, reflecting efficient problem-solving and resource allocation within discharge planning processes.
Despite strong performance in discharge processes, only 60.9% of respondents in Barnet reported satisfaction with their care and support, falling below the national average of 64.7%. This lower satisfaction rate suggests that while services may be operationally efficient, they may not fully meet the expectations or needs of service users.
Furthermore, according to NatCen, dissatisfaction with social care in Barnet stands at 57%. Although comparative national data is not available for this metric, the high level of dissatisfaction indicates underlying issues that may affect overall perceptions of care quality.
The proportion of people finding it easy to access information about services in Barnet is 63%, which is below the national average of 68.2%. Difficulty in obtaining information could contribute to lower satisfaction levels, as individuals may feel unsupported in navigating available services, leading to unmet needs.
Barnet has 4.30 ombudsman complaints received per 100,000 people, slightly below the national average of 4.45. Similarly, 3.29 complaints were decided per 100,000 people, which is lower than the national average of 4.12. Fewer complaints may indicate effective resolution of issues at local levels or could reflect barriers in the complaints process that require attention.
Barnet's high population density of 4,488.7 residents per square kilometre, compared to the England average of 2,468.5, may strain local services and impact user satisfaction. Although the area is less deprived, the minimal rural population (0.12% compared to 34.6% nationally) suggests that urban challenges such as overcrowding and resource competition could affect service delivery.
The discrepancies between operational efficiencies, such as timely discharges, and lower satisfaction levels point to a need for qualitative improvements in care and support services. Enhancing communication, increasing accessibility of information, and personalizing services may address user concerns. Additionally, investigating the root causes of dissatisfaction can inform targeted interventions.
Allocating resources towards community engagement and support could bridge gaps between service provision and user expectations. Considering the urban context, strategies that mitigate the pressures of high-density living may also improve satisfaction.
While Barnet demonstrates strengths in operational efficiency within health and social care services, attention to user experience and satisfaction is essential. By addressing the identified areas for improvement, Barnet can enhance overall quality and better meet the needs of its population.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
✨ ✅ ❌?
In 2024, Barnet's gross total expenditure on social care is £47,941.63 per 100,000 people. This is slightly higher than the England average of £47,758.16. This means Barnet is investing a bit more in social care services compared to other areas.
Barnet's net total expenditure is £43,356.12 per 100,000 people, while the England average is £40,471.81. The net expenditure is the amount spent after accounting for income from client contributions and other sources. A higher net expenditure suggests that Barnet is allocating more funds directly to support residents in need.
Clients in Barnet contribute £4,585.51 per 100,000 people towards their social care. This is lower than the England average of £7,286.35. This could mean that residents in Barnet are paying less out of pocket for services. Possible reasons might include local policies that reduce fees or a population that requires more subsidised support.
The NHS contributes £7,578.08 per 100,000 people to social care in Barnet. This is slightly less than the England average of £7,878.45. Lower NHS contributions might mean Barnet relies more on local funding for social care services.
Barnet's population has been growing, reaching 395,007 in 2023, which is higher than the England average of 377,060.9. The area is also very densely populated, with 4,488.7 people per square kilometre compared to the England average of 2,468.5. A higher population and density can increase demand for social care services, as more people may need support.
Barnet has a mean deprivation decile of 6.38, which is higher than the England average of 5.9. This means Barnet is less deprived than many other areas. Despite this, the area spends more on social care per person. This could suggest that even in less deprived areas, there is still a significant need for social care due to factors like an ageing population.
Only 0.1% of Barnet is rural, compared to 34.6% for England. Being a mostly urban area, Barnet may face different social care challenges than rural areas. Urban settings can have higher living costs and different health issues, which might affect the need for social care services.
The higher spending on social care in Barnet suggests a commitment to supporting residents. Lower client contributions mean that services may be more accessible to those who need them. However, with slightly lower NHS contributions, Barnet may need to manage resources carefully to meet demand.
Barnet invests more in social care per person than the national average. Factors like a growing and dense population, along with urban challenges, may contribute to higher demand for services. The council's approach to funding indicates a focus on making social care accessible, which is important for the wellbeing of its residents.
✨ ✅ ❌