This page provides an overview of social care in Bath and North East Somerset, 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: Bath and North East Somerset
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: Bath and North East Somerset
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 Bath and North East Somerset. 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 proportion of disabled people in Bath and North East Somerset is 16.2%, slightly below the national average of 17.6%. This suggests that the area has a smaller percentage of disabled residents compared to the rest of England.
In 2024, there were 1,930 requests for care from working-age adults in the area. This equates to 965.88 requests per 100,000 people, which is lower than the national average of 1,143.48 per 100,000. This lower rate may indicate that fewer working-age adults are seeking or needing care services in Bath and North East Somerset.
A total of 935 individuals aged 18 to 64 received care services in 2024. This is 467.93 per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of 532.68 per 100,000. The lower number of care recipients might suggest that this age group in the area has less need for support, or there could be barriers to accessing services.
Different forms of care were accessed by residents:
Nursing Care: 20 people received nursing care, which is 10.01 per 100,000 people. This is slightly lower than the national average of 13.75 per 100,000.
Residential Care: 150 individuals were in residential care, amounting to 75.07 per 100,000 people. This is higher than the national average of 60.61 per 100,000, indicating a greater use of residential facilities in the area.
Community Care with Direct Payment Only: 185 people used this service, which is 92.58 per 100,000 people. This is less than the national rate of 122.17 per 100,000, suggesting fewer people are managing their care funds independently.
Community Care with Part Direct Payment: 30 individuals accessed this, equating to 15.01 per 100,000 people, well below the national average of 47.95 per 100,000.
Community Care Managed by the Local Authority: 550 people received care managed by the council, which is 275.25 per 100,000 people. This is slightly higher than the national average of 266.67 per 100,000, indicating a strong role of the local authority in providing care.
Bath and North East Somerset has a population of 199,818 in 2023, with numbers rising each year. The area is less densely populated, with 559.2 people per square kilometre, compared to the England average of 2,468.5. This means it is more rural, with 45.9% of residents living in rural areas, compared to the national average of 34.6%.
The area is less deprived, with a mean deprivation decile of 7.5 against the national mean of 5.9. A higher decile indicates less deprivation. This could contribute to better overall health and lower disability rates.
The slightly lower proportion of disabled people might be linked to the area's lower deprivation levels. Less deprivation often leads to better health outcomes. However, the rural nature of the area could affect access to services, as people may live further from support centres.
The higher use of residential care suggests that when support is needed, people may opt for or require more intensive services. The lower numbers using direct payments for community care might mean that residents prefer the local authority to manage their care, or they may lack awareness of direct payment options.
Service providers might consider expanding community-based services to offer more options for disabled people. Promoting direct payments could empower individuals to tailor their care to their needs. Ensuring that rural residents have access to services is important, so outreach programs or mobile services could be beneficial.
Policymakers should note the reliance on residential care and explore if this reflects a preference or a lack of alternatives. Investing in local authority-managed services seems vital, given their significant role in the area.
✨ ✅ ❌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 Bath and North East Somerset has remained higher than the national average from 2019 to 2023. In 2019, 19.32% of the population were older adults, compared to the England average of 18.4%. By 2023, this figure was 19.24% locally, still above the national average of 18.5%. This suggests a significant older population in the area, which could impact demand for care services.
Despite a higher proportion of older residents, the number of requests for care per 100,000 people aged 65 and over in 2024 was 1,741.58, lower than the national average of 2,437.85. Similarly, the number of people receiving care was 685.62 per 100,000, below the national rate of 1,002.86. This could indicate that older people in the area are more self-sufficient or have better family support networks. The area's lower deprivation levels (mean deprivation decile of 7.5 compared to the national average of 5.9) might mean that residents have more resources to manage independently.
When looking at types of care, nursing care services had a higher uptake locally, with 190.17 per 100,000 receiving this care, compared to the national average of 121.75. This might suggest that while fewer older people are accessing care services in general, those who do may have more complex health needs requiring nursing support. Conversely, residential care services were accessed at a lower rate locally (170.15 per 100,000) than nationally (249.93 per 100,000), possibly reflecting a preference for remaining in one's own home when possible.
The use of community-based services was also lower in Bath and North East Somerset. For example, only 22.52 per 100,000 received direct payments for community care, compared to 55.44 nationally. This may reflect challenges in accessing community services in a more rural area (45.9% rural compared to 34.6% nationally) or a lack of awareness about available support.
In terms of people seeking help with specific issues in 2025, the local rates for requesting help with charging and legal issues were higher than national averages. This could indicate confusion or concerns about the cost of care and legal matters among older residents. Providing clearer information and support in these areas could be beneficial.
Overall, the data suggests that while Bath and North East Somerset has a higher proportion of older residents, they are accessing care services at a lower rate than expected. Service providers may need to investigate whether there are barriers to accessing care or if the needs of older people are being met through other means. Given the area's lower levels of deprivation and higher rural population, strategies to enhance information dissemination and improve accessibility of services in rural areas may be important.
✨ ✅ ❌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
Bath and North East Somerset is a region with a growing population. In 2019, it had 190,176 people, increasing to 199,818 in 2023. The area is more rural than average, with 45.9% of the land being rural compared to 34.6% for England. It has a lower population density, with 559 people per square kilometre, while the England average is 2,468. The region is less deprived, with a deprivation decile of 7.5 compared to the national average of 5.9.
In 2021, there were about 7,780 unpaid carers per 100,000 people in Bath and North East Somerset. This is slightly lower than the national average of 8,204 unpaid carers per 100,000 people. This might mean there are fewer people needing care, or services are available that reduce the need for unpaid carers.
In 2024, 37.4% of carers in the area said they had as much social contact as they wanted. This is higher than the national average of 29.3%. This suggests carers in Bath and North East Somerset feel less isolated. This could be due to strong community networks or good support services.
The region offers different support to carers. Only 17.5 carers per 100,000 people received direct payments, much lower than the national average of 149.9. However, 783.2 carers per 100,000 received information and advice services, which is higher than the national average of 338.7. Fewer carers received no direct support compared to the national average (80.1 vs. 129.6 per 100,000). Also, 87.6 carers per 100,000 received respite care or support for the person they care for, slightly above the national average of 70.0. This shows the area focuses on providing information and advice rather than direct financial support.
In 2024, 68.7% of carers in Bath and North East Somerset felt it was easy to find information about services. This is higher than the national average of 59.3%. This suggests the region provides good information services, helping carers access the support they need.
The data indicates that carers in Bath and North East Somerset feel more supported and less isolated than carers on average in England. The focus on information and advice may contribute to this. The lower number of unpaid carers could be due to effective services that reduce the burden on families. The area's lower deprivation and rural nature might also play a role. Continuing to invest in information services and community support could further help carers in the region.
✨ ✅ ❌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
Bath and North East Somerset is an area with a population of about 200,000 people. This area has several care providers offering services to the community. In this analysis, we will look at the number and quality of these care providers, the staffing challenges they face, and how the area's characteristics may affect them.
In Bath and North East Somerset, there are 21 community-based adult social care services and 49 residential social care providers. This means there are about 10.5 community care providers and 24.5 residential care providers for every 100,000 people. Compared to the national averages of about 16.9 community providers and 24.1 residential providers per 100,000 people, Bath and North East Somerset has fewer community care providers per person but a similar number of residential care providers.
About 19.7% of care providers in Bath and North East Somerset need improvement or are inadequate. This is higher than the national average of 16.8%. A higher proportion of care providers needing improvement can affect the quality of care people receive.
Care providers in Bath and North East Somerset face challenges in recruiting and retaining staff. About 89.5% of them find recruiting staff more challenging or much more challenging, compared to the national average of 79.8%. In retaining staff, 76.7% find it more challenging, higher than the national average of 68.1%. The vacancy rate is 7.6%, which is slightly lower than the national average of 8.4%. The turnover rate is about 26%, similar to the national average.
Bath and North East Somerset has a population density of 559 people per square kilometre, which is lower than the national average of 2,468.5 people. This means the area is less crowded and more spread out. Almost half of the area is rural (45.9% compared to the national average of 34.6%). The rural nature may make it harder for care providers to reach people who live far apart, and staff may have to travel longer distances to work, which can affect recruitment and retention. Although the area is less deprived, with a deprivation decile of 7.5 out of 10 (where 10 is least deprived) compared to the national average of 5.9, there may be other factors such as housing costs or access to transport that affect the ability to recruit and keep staff.
The challenges in recruiting and retaining staff may contribute to the higher proportion of care providers needing improvement in Bath and North East Somerset. Fewer community care providers per person may mean that people have less access to services in their own homes, which could increase demand on residential care. The rural nature of the area might make it harder for care providers to serve people in remote locations. To improve service delivery, it may be important to address the staffing challenges. This could involve local policies to support affordable housing for care workers, improve transport links, or provide incentives for working in rural areas. By helping care providers to recruit and retain staff, the quality of care could improve, and people would have better access to the services they need.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
Bath and North East Somerset is working to improve the quality of social care services. In the 2024/25 CQC Local Authority assessment, the area scored 53, which is below the national average of 64.7. This means that improvements are needed to meet the required standards.
In November 2024, 99.6% of discharges were from acceptable trusts. This is higher than the national average of 89%, showing that most patients are discharged from trusted providers. The percentage of delayed discharges was 11.9%, slightly lower than the national average of 12.3%. The average delay was 0.64 days, compared to 0.7 days nationally. Reducing delays further could help improve patient experiences.
In 2024, 68.8% of respondents said they were satisfied with their care and support, which is higher than the national average of 64.7%. This suggests that many people in Bath and North East Somerset are happy with the services they receive. However, according to another source, NatCen, 57% of people expressed dissatisfaction with social care. This indicates that there may be underlying issues affecting satisfaction, and further investigation could help address them.
About 67.7% of people using services felt it was easy to find information about services in 2024. This is just below the national average of 68.2%. Improving access to information could help more people find the support they need.
In 2024, there were 3 Ombudsman complaints received per 100,000 people in Bath and North East Somerset, which is lower than the national average of 4.45. The Ombudsman decided on 2.5 cases per 100,000 people, also below the national average of 4.12. Fewer complaints may suggest fewer issues, but it could also mean that people are less likely to report problems.
The population of Bath and North East Somerset has grown from 190,176 in 2019 to 199,818 in 2023. The area is less densely populated, with 559.2 residents per square kilometre, compared to the national average of 2,468.5. It is also more rural, with 45.9% of the area being rural land, higher than the national average of 34.6%.
The mean deprivation decile is 7.5, higher than the national mean of 5.9. This means the area is less deprived than average. Lower deprivation may affect the demand for social care services and the types of support needed.
The data shows that while many people are satisfied with care and support, there are areas needing improvement. The lower CQC assessment score indicates that services must be enhanced to meet standards. Reducing delays in discharges and making it easier to find information could improve outcomes for service users.
Given the rural nature of the area, providing services can be challenging due to distances and accessibility. Understanding local needs and addressing dissatisfaction are important for planning and resource allocation. By focusing on quality improvement, Bath and North East Somerset can better serve its 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.
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In 2024, Bath and North East Somerset spent £46,917.19 per 100,000 people on gross total social care expenditure. This amount is slightly below the England average of £47,758.16 per 100,000 people. The net total expenditure was £40,834.66 per 100,000 people, which is just above the national average of £40,471.81 per 100,000 people.
Clients in Bath and North East Somerset contributed £6,082.54 per 100,000 people towards their care. This is less than the England average of £7,286.35 per 100,000 people. This lower contribution might mean that residents are less able to pay for their care or that local policies reduce the costs for clients.
The NHS contributed £8,582.81 per 100,000 people to social care in the area. This is higher than the national average of £7,878.45 per 100,000 people. This greater contribution from the NHS could help support services and ease the funding burden on the local council.
The population of Bath and North East Somerset has been growing. In 2019, there were 190,176 residents, increasing to 199,818 in 2023. This growth may lead to a higher demand for social care services.
The area has a population density of 559.2 residents per square kilometre, which is much lower than the England average of 2,468.5 residents per square kilometre. This lower density suggests that services may need to cover larger areas, potentially increasing the costs of delivering care.
Bath and North East Somerset is less deprived than many other parts of England. In 2019, the mean deprivation decile was 7.5, compared to the national average of 5.9. A higher decile means less deprivation. The area is also quite rural, with 45.9% of it being rural land in 2011, compared to 34.6% across England.
The lower client contributions might indicate that residents are less required to pay for their care, possibly due to local policies or the economic situation. The higher NHS contributions help support the funding of social care, which could improve the availability and quality of services.
The growing population increases the need for social care services. The rural nature of the area means that delivering services might be more challenging and costly, as care providers have to travel longer distances to reach clients.
Since the area is less deprived, there might be fewer people needing intensive social care services. However, those who do need help may still face challenges due to the rural setting and potential isolation.
The information suggests that planning for social care in Bath and North East Somerset should consider the growing and spread-out population. Ensuring that funding is sufficient to cover the costs of delivering services across rural areas is important.
The higher NHS contributions show the importance of health and social care working together. Continued collaboration can help improve services for residents.
The absence of data on budget cuts means it is hard to fully understand the funding situation. Transparency about funding needs and allocations is important for effective planning and ensuring that services meet the needs of the community.
Bath and North East Somerset's spending on social care is close to the national averages, with some differences in how the funding is made up. The area's growing population and rural nature present unique challenges for delivering social care services. Addressing these challenges and ensuring adequate funding will help provide effective support to those who need it.
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