This page provides an overview of social care in Blackburn with Darwen, 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: Blackburn with Darwen
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: Blackburn with Darwen
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 Blackburn with Darwen. 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 borough of Blackburn with Darwen has a higher proportion of people with disabilities compared to the national average. In 2024, 20.7% of the population was recorded as having a disability, while the average across England was 17.6%. This suggests that a significant portion of the community may require additional support and services.
In 2024, there were 3,085 requests for care from individuals of working age (18 to 64 years old) in Blackburn with Darwen. This equates to 1,958.7 requests per 100,000 people, significantly higher than the national average of 1,143.5 per 100,000. The higher number of requests could indicate a greater need for support among this age group, possibly due to health issues or economic factors.
A total of 1,175 working-age adults were receiving care services in 2024. This is 746.0 people per 100,000, compared to the national average of 532.7 per 100,000. The higher rate of care recipients suggests that more people in Blackburn with Darwen are accessing care services than in other areas.
Different types of care services are provided to meet various needs:
Residential Care: 105 people were in residential care, which is 66.7 per 100,000 people, slightly higher than the national average of 60.6 per 100,000. This indicates a modestly higher use of residential facilities.
Nursing Care: 20 individuals received nursing care, at a rate of 12.7 per 100,000. This is close to the national average of 13.8 per 100,000.
Community Care with Direct Payments: 330 people used direct payments for community care, amounting to 209.5 per 100,000. This is significantly higher than the national average of 122.2 per 100,000, suggesting that many prefer managing their own care services.
Community Care with Commissioned Support: 255 individuals received care through council-commissioned support only, at a rate of 161.9 per 100,000. This is much higher than the national average of 58.3 per 100,000, indicating a strong reliance on council-managed services.
Blackburn with Darwen has a population density of 1,129.4 residents per square kilometre, lower than the England average of 2,468.5. The borough is largely urban, with only 5% rural areas, compared to the national average of 34.6% rural. The mean deprivation decile is 3.32, below the England average of 5.9, indicating higher levels of deprivation. This economic context may contribute to the higher rates of disability and the increased demand for care services.
The higher prevalence of disability and greater demand for care services in Blackburn with Darwen suggest that local authorities need to allocate more resources to meet these needs. The preference for direct payments and council-commissioned support highlights the importance of flexible care options. Policies should focus on supporting working-age adults with disabilities, addressing socioeconomic challenges, and ensuring that care services are accessible and tailored to the community's needs.
Blackburn with Darwen faces unique challenges with higher rates of disability and care service usage among working-age adults. Understanding these patterns is essential for planning effective support services. By considering the socioeconomic factors and preferences for different types of care, policymakers can improve service delivery and enhance the quality of life for residents with disabilities.
✨ ✅ ❌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 Blackburn with Darwen has risen slightly from 14.4% in 2019 to 14.5% in 2023. This is lower than the national average, which was around 18.4% to 18.9% during the same period. This means there are fewer older people in the area compared to the rest of the country.
In 2024, there were 4,255 requests for care from people aged 65 and over. This is equal to 2,701.5 requests per 100,000 people. The national average was 2,437.8 requests per 100,000 people. This shows that older people in Blackburn with Darwen are asking for help more often than in other places.
Also in 2024, 1,860 older people received care services. This is 1,180.9 people per 100,000, higher than the national average of 1,002.9 per 100,000. More older people in the area are getting care compared to the rest of England.
Different types of care are provided. In nursing homes, 110 older people were cared for, which is 69.8 per 100,000 people. This is less than the national average of 121.8 per 100,000. However, 495 older people were in residential care homes, which is 314.3 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average of 249.9 per 100,000. This means more older people in the area are in residential homes.
Some older people received care at home. About 90 people had direct payments only, and 25 had part direct payments. The numbers per 100,000 are close to the national averages. A larger number, 1,005 people, had managed personal budgets, which is 638.1 per 100,000 people. This is higher than the national average of 507.9 per 100,000.
There were 135 older people who received community support arranged by the council, at 85.7 per 100,000 people. This is lower than the national average of 137.2 per 100,000. Fewer older people are getting this type of support in the area.
In 2025, some older people asked for help with other matters. Nine people needed help with charges, two were seeking information, and one had legal issues. The numbers per 100,000 are similar to the national averages.
The population of Blackburn with Darwen grew from 154,066 in 2019 to 157,503 in 2023. This shows a steady increase in people living in the area. The area is less densely populated than the national average, with 1,129.4 people per square kilometre compared to 2,468.5 nationally.
The area is more deprived than the national average. The mean deprivation decile is 3.32, while the national mean is 5.9. A lower decile means more deprivation. This might affect the need for care services.
Even though there are fewer older people in Blackburn with Darwen than in other parts of the country, more of them are asking for and receiving care. This could be due to higher levels of deprivation, which may lead to greater health and social care needs.
The higher number of older people in residential care suggests that there is a greater reliance on this type of service. The council may need to consider increasing support for community-based services to help older people stay in their homes if they wish.
The data shows that planning for care services in Blackburn with Darwen should take into account the higher demand from older people. Resources may need to be allocated to support the types of care that are most needed. Addressing deprivation could also help reduce some of the pressures on care services.
✨ ✅ ❌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
Blackburn with Darwen has a significant number of unpaid carers. In 2021, there were 8572 unpaid carers for every 100,000 people. This is higher than the England average of 8203 unpaid carers per 100,000 people. This means that many people in Blackburn with Darwen are caring for family or friends without pay.
In 2024, 31.5% of carers in Blackburn with Darwen said they had as much social contact as they wanted. This is slightly higher than the national average of 29.3%. This suggests that carers in Blackburn with Darwen might feel slightly less isolated than carers in other parts of England. However, more than two-thirds still feel they lack enough social contact.
Access to information is important for carers. In Blackburn with Darwen, 71% of carers felt it was easy to find information about services in 2024. This is higher than the England average of 59.3%. This means that carers in Blackburn with Darwen find it easier to get the help and advice they need.
Different types of support are available to carers. In 2024, Blackburn with Darwen provided direct payments to 54 carers per 100,000 people. This is lower than the national rate of 150 per 100,000 people. Direct payments allow carers to choose and buy services they need.
There were 152 carers per 100,000 people who received information, advice, or signposting services. This is less than the national average of 339 per 100,000 people. This suggests that while many carers feel they can find information easily, fewer are receiving formal advice services.
About 130 carers per 100,000 people did not receive direct support. This is similar to the national average of 130 per 100,000 people. Additionally, 79 carers per 100,000 people received support through services provided to the person they care for, like respite care. This is higher than the national average of 70 per 100,000 people.
Blackburn with Darwen has a growing population, reaching 157,503 people in 2023. The area is more urban and has higher deprivation than the England average. A higher number of unpaid carers could be linked to these factors. People in deprived areas may have more health needs and rely more on family and friends for care.
The fact that more carers feel they have enough social contact and can find information easily is positive. It suggests that local services are helping carers connect and find support. However, lower rates of direct payments and advice services might mean that carers receive less formal support than in other areas.
These findings suggest a need to increase support services for carers in Blackburn with Darwen. Providing more direct payments and advice services could help carers manage their roles better. This is important because unpaid carers provide valuable support to the community.
Understanding the needs of carers can help local authorities plan services better. It can also ensure that carers receive the support they need, which can improve their wellbeing and the care they provide.
✨ ✅ ❌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
Blackburn with Darwen, with a population of approximately 157,503 in 2023, is an area with unique challenges and strengths in its social care sector. This analysis looks at the current state of care providers in the area, focusing on their number, quality, staffing issues, and the impact of local conditions.
In 2024, Blackburn with Darwen has 23 community-based adult social care services and 33 residential social care providers. Compared to the national averages of 63.8 and 91 respectively, the area has fewer care providers. This means there are more people per care provider in Blackburn with Darwen than the national average. For community services, there are about 6,848 people per provider in the area, compared to about 5,910 people per provider nationally. This could suggest that residents might find it harder to access these services due to higher demand on fewer providers.
The proportion of care providers needing improvement or rated as inadequate in Blackburn with Darwen is 23.21% in 2024. This is higher than the national average of 16.8%. A larger share of local care services may not be meeting the expected standards, which could affect the quality of care received by residents. This situation might be linked to factors such as resource limitations or staffing challenges within the providers.
Staffing is a significant concern in the area. The vacancy rate in Blackburn with Darwen stands at 8.97% in 2023/24, higher than the national average of 8.4%. This suggests that nearly one in ten positions in care services are unfilled, which can strain existing staff and impact the quality of care. Additionally, 81.34% of providers report that recruiting staff is more challenging or much more challenging, compared to 79.8% nationally. Retaining staff is also difficult, with 69.5% of providers finding it more challenging, slightly above the national figure of 68.1%.
Blackburn with Darwen has a higher level of deprivation compared to the national average. The mean deprivation decile for the area is 3.32, significantly lower than the England mean of 5.9. This indicates that the area is more deprived, which can impact both the demand for care services and the ability to pay for them. Higher deprivation levels often correlate with greater health and social care needs, putting additional pressure on local services.
The area is more urbanised, with only 5% being rural compared to the national average of 34.6%. The population density is 1,129.4 residents per square kilometre, which is lower than the England average of 2,468.5. An urban setting can influence the demand for care services and create challenges in service delivery, such as higher competition for staffing from other sectors.
The combination of fewer care providers, a higher proportion needing improvement, and staffing challenges suggests that the social care sector in Blackburn with Darwen faces significant pressures. The high levels of deprivation may contribute to greater demand for care services, while making it harder to recruit and retain staff due to factors like lower wages or more challenging working conditions.
Addressing these issues may require targeted efforts, such as increased funding, support for staff recruitment and retention, and initiatives to improve the quality of care services. Enhancing the attractiveness of care work in the area could help reduce vacancy and turnover rates, leading to better continuity of care for residents. Policies focused on training and supporting existing staff may also improve service quality.
Overall, the data indicates that Blackburn with Darwen faces challenges in its social care sector, including fewer care providers per capita, higher rates of providers needing improvement, and significant staffing difficulties. These challenges are set against a backdrop of higher deprivation and urban density, which may increase demand for services. Addressing these issues is crucial to ensure that residents receive the quality care 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.
Blackburn with Darwen has seen a steady population growth from 154,066 in 2019 to 157,503 in 2023. This population is smaller than the England average of 377,061 in 2023. The area is mostly urban, with only 5% being rural, compared to 34.6% rural areas across England. The population density was 1,129.4 people per square kilometre in 2021, which is less than the national average of 2,468.5. The mean deprivation decile in 2019 was 3.32, lower than England's average of 5.9, indicating higher levels of deprivation in the area.
In November 2024, there were 11.31 discharges from acceptable trusts back to Blackburn with Darwen’s local authority. This number is lower than the national average of 89 discharges. This could be due to the smaller population size or possibly fewer hospital admissions. The percentage of discharges that were delayed was 7.45%, which is better than the national average of 12.3%. This suggests that the area is effective in coordinating patient's return to the community, reducing unnecessary hospital stays.
The average delay for those who did experience a delay was 0.29 days, less than half the national average of 0.7 days. This efficiency might be a result of strong collaboration between health services and social care providers in Blackburn with Darwen.
In 2024, 62.5% of respondents in Blackburn with Darwen said they were satisfied with their care and support. This is slightly below the national average of 64.7%. While most people are satisfied, there is room to enhance the quality of care to meet or exceed the national satisfaction levels. Another source indicated that dissatisfaction with social care was 57%, but without national data for comparison, it's hard to gauge how this fits into the wider context.
Additionally, 66.5% of people using services felt it was easy to find information about services, compared to 68.2% nationally. This slight difference suggests that residents might face some challenges in accessing information, which could impact their overall satisfaction with services.
The number of complaints received by the Ombudsman was 1.9 per 100,000 people in Blackburn with Darwen, lower than the national average of 4.45 per 100,000. Similarly, 1.27 complaints were decided per 100,000 people, compared to 4.12 nationally. The lower number of complaints could indicate that residents experience fewer serious issues with services, or it might reflect lower awareness of how to report complaints.
The data suggests that Blackburn with Darwen is performing well in managing hospital discharges and minimizing delays, which is crucial for patient well-being and resource management. The slightly lower satisfaction rates and ease of finding information point to areas where improvements could be made. Enhancing communication and making information more accessible might boost satisfaction levels.
Considering the higher levels of deprivation, residents might face additional barriers in accessing services or voicing concerns. Efforts to understand and address these challenges could lead to better service delivery and increased satisfaction. Tailoring services to meet the specific needs of the community, and ensuring that residents are aware of how to provide feedback, could help allocate resources more effectively and drive quality improvements.
✨ ✅ ❌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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Blackburn with Darwen is a borough in England with a population of 157,503 people in 2023. The population has been growing slowly over the past few years, from 154,066 people in 2019. The borough is mostly urban, with only 5% of the area being rural. The population density is 1,129.4 residents per square kilometre, which is lower than the England average of 2,468.5 residents per square kilometre.
The area has higher levels of deprivation compared to the England average. In 2019, the mean deprivation decile was 3.32, while the national average was 5.9. This means that Blackburn with Darwen is more deprived. Deprivation can lead to greater needs for social care services.
In 2024, Blackburn with Darwen spent £49,510.80 per 100,000 people on gross total social care expenditure. This is slightly higher than the England average of £47,758.16 per 100,000 people. The net total expenditure was £43,029.66 per 100,000 people, also higher than the national average of £40,471.81 per 100,000 people. The higher spending suggests that the borough is investing more in social care to meet the needs of its population.
Client contributions in Blackburn with Darwen are £6,481.15 per 100,000 people, which is lower than the England average of £7,286.35 per 100,000 people. This may be because people in the borough have lower incomes and cannot afford to pay as much towards their care. As a result, the council may have to cover more of the costs.
NHS contributions in Blackburn with Darwen are £11,016.93 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average of £7,878.45 per 100,000 people. This indicates that the NHS is providing more support for social care in the area. This additional funding may help to address higher demand due to deprivation.
The combination of lower client contributions and higher NHS contributions affects how social care services are funded in Blackburn with Darwen. The council relies more on NHS funding and less on client payments. This could have implications for resource allocation and future planning.
There is no data available about budget cuts. However, it is noted that the government knows how much money is needed for social care but is not making that information known. This lack of transparency can make it harder for the council to plan and deliver services effectively.
Overall, the higher social care spending in Blackburn with Darwen reflects the greater needs of its population. The borough's higher levels of deprivation mean that more people require support. The lower client contributions suggest that they may not be able to afford to pay for their care. The higher NHS contributions help to fill this gap, ensuring that people can access the services they need.
This situation highlights the importance of adequate funding and effective resource allocation. By understanding the needs of the population, the council can provide better services. It is important for the government to share information about funding requirements to support planning and delivery of social care.
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