This page provides an overview of social care in Brent, 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 Brent. 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
This report looks at information about disabled people in Brent. It focuses on people aged 18 to 64 who need care. We will look at data from 2024 and 2025. We will also consider background details about Brent.
In Brent, 14.7% of people are disabled. This is less than the national average of 17.6%. This might mean that Brent has a younger population. It could also mean that some disabled people are not identified.
In 2024, there were 1,905 requests for care from working-age people in Brent. This is 552.94 requests per 100,000 people. The national average is 1,143.48 requests per 100,000. Brent has fewer requests than the average. This could be because people do not know about the services. It might also mean that people find it hard to access care.
In Brent, 1,755 people aged 18 to 64 receive care. This is 509.4 people per 100,000. The national average is 532.68 per 100,000. Brent has slightly fewer people receiving care than the average.
Brent uses some types of care more than others.
Nursing Care: There are 55 people in nursing care. This is 15.96 per 100,000 people. The national average is 13.75 per 100,000. Brent has more people in nursing care than average.
Residential Care: There are 145 people in residential care. This is 42.09 per 100,000 people. The national average is 60.61 per 100,000. Brent has fewer people in residential care.
Community Care with Personal Budget: There are 1,020 people receiving community care with a managed personal budget. This is 296.06 per 100,000 people. The national average is 266.67 per 100,000. Brent uses this care more than average.
In 2025, people in Brent asked for different kinds of help.
Assessments: There were 2 requests, which is 0.58 per 100,000 people. The national average is 1.72 per 100,000. This is lower than average.
Information Seeking: There were 10 requests, or 2.90 per 100,000 people. The national average is 2.6 per 100,000. This is slightly higher than average.
Safeguarding: There were 7 requests, which is 2.03 per 100,000 people. The national average is 1.21 per 100,000. Brent has more requests in this area.
Brent has a high population density. There are 7,859.6 people per square kilometre. The national average is 2,468.5 people per square kilometre. Brent is a very urban area.
Brent is more deprived than average. Its mean deprivation decile is 4.16, while the national average is 5.9. This means there are more areas with high deprivation in Brent.
The population of Brent has changed slightly over time. In 2019, there were 347,424 people. In 2023, there were 344,521 people. This is a small decrease.
Brent has fewer people requesting and receiving care than average. However, it has high deprivation and is very urban. This might mean that some people are not getting the help they need. Services may need to reach more people. Policies could focus on making care easier to access.
Brent has a lower proportion of disabled people compared to the national average. It also has fewer requests for care and fewer people receiving care. But Brent has factors like high deprivation and urban density that can increase the need for services. It is important to ensure that people in Brent can access the care they require.
✨ ✅ ❌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 Brent has steadily increased from 11.1% in 2019 to 12.08% in 2023. This shows a gradual rise in the elderly population over the past five years. However, Brent's proportion remains lower than the national average, which fluctuated around 18.4% to 18.9% during the same period. The lower percentage in Brent suggests a younger population compared to the rest of England.
In 2024, there were 4,470 requests for care from residents aged 65 and over in Brent. This equates to 1,297.45 requests per 100,000 people. The national average is higher, with 2,437.85 requests per 100,000 people. The lower rate of requests in Brent may be due to the smaller proportion of older residents. It could also indicate differences in awareness or accessibility of care services among the elderly population in Brent.
A total of 3,345 older people received care in Brent in 2024, amounting to 970.91 per 100,000 people. This figure is slightly below the national average of 1,002.86 per 100,000 people. The similarity suggests that, despite fewer requests for care, a comparable number of older residents in Brent receive support.
Brent shows distinct patterns in the types of care services used by older residents:
Nursing Care: With 330 individuals receiving nursing care (95.79 per 100,000 people), Brent is below the national average of 121.75 per 100,000. This may indicate fewer elderly residents requiring intensive medical support or a preference for alternative care options.
Residential Care: Only 290 older people are in residential care in Brent (84.17 per 100,000), significantly lower than the national average of 249.93 per 100,000. This suggests that residential care is less utilised, possibly due to cultural preferences or availability of services.
Community-Based Care: Brent has higher engagement in community-based care services. For instance, 685 individuals receive direct payments only for community care, amounting to 198.83 per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of 55.44 per 100,000. Additionally, 1,905 older residents use a council-managed personal budget for community care, equating to 552.94 per 100,000, which is above the national average of 507.92 per 100,000.
The higher reliance on community care reflects a preference for support within the home or local community. This could be due to Brent's urban setting and high population density, making community services more accessible and practical.
Brent's population has slightly fluctuated but remained around 340,000 to 345,000 between 2019 and 2023. The borough has a high population density of 7,859.6 people per square kilometre, compared to the national average of 2,468.5. This urban environment may influence the delivery and utilisation of care services.
Brent scores lower on the deprivation index with a mean decile of 4.16, while the national mean is 5.9. Higher deprivation can impact health outcomes and the need for social care. However, despite higher deprivation, the uptake of care services among older people in Brent does not exceed national averages, possibly due to cultural factors or service provision models.
The increasing proportion of older residents, though still below the national average, signals a growing need for elderly care services in Brent. The lower utilisation of nursing and residential care suggests that services should focus on enhancing community-based support. Given the urban landscape and high density, community care is likely more feasible and preferred by residents.
The council may need to allocate resources towards expanding community care programs and ensuring that older people are aware of and can access these services. Addressing potential barriers due to deprivation is also important to meet the needs of the ageing population effectively.
✨ ✅ ❌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 2021, Brent had a population of 339,248, slightly below the England average of 369,640. Despite its smaller size, Brent has a notably high population density of 7,859.6 residents per square kilometre, compared to the national average of 2,468.5. The area is entirely urban, with 0% rural population, unlike the England average of 34.6% rural areas. Brent also experiences higher levels of deprivation, with a mean deprivation decile of 4.16 against the national average of 5.9, indicating greater socioeconomic challenges.
In 2021, Brent had 6,733 unpaid carers per 100,000 people, which is lower than the national average of 8,204 per 100,000. This suggests that a smaller proportion of Brent's population takes on unpaid caring responsibilities compared to the wider country. Factors such as Brent's younger demographic profile and economic pressures associated with higher deprivation may influence this difference. Residents may be more engaged in full-time employment, leaving less capacity for unpaid care.
In 2024, 31.1% of carers in Brent reported that they had as much social contact as they would like, slightly above the national average of 29.3%. This indicates that carers in Brent may have better access to social networks or support systems. Given Brent's high population density and urban environment, carers might find it easier to engage with community resources and support groups within close proximity.
Only 42.9% of carers in Brent felt it was easy to find information about services in 2024, significantly below the national average of 59.3%. This suggests that, despite being in an urban area where information could be more accessible, carers in Brent face challenges in accessing service information. The diverse population, with potential language barriers, and higher deprivation levels may limit access to digital resources where information is often found.
Regarding direct support, Brent provides fewer direct payments to carers, with 104.5 per 100,000 receiving them compared to the national average of 149.9 per 100,000. Partial direct payments and managed personal budgets are also slightly below national figures. Notably, Brent does not report figures for 'cassr commissioned support only,' which may indicate a lack of such services or data unavailability.
The provision of information and signposting services is significantly lower in Brent, with only 46.4 per 100,000 carers receiving such support, against a national average of 338.7 per 100,000. This correlates with the lower percentage of carers who find it easy to access information, pointing to a potential gap in service delivery. Conversely, respite care and support delivered to the cared-for person are higher in Brent, at 124.8 per 100,000 compared to 70.0 per 100,000 nationally. This implies that services may focus more on supporting the cared-for person, indirectly aiding carers.
The data indicates that while carers in Brent report slightly higher satisfaction with social contact, they struggle to find information about services. The lower provision of information and signposting services could be contributing to this issue. Addressing this gap could enhance carers' access to support, especially given the area's urban setting and potential for community engagement.
Brent's higher levels of deprivation may impact carers' ability to access or afford services without sufficient support. Economic pressures could limit their capacity to seek out and utilize available resources. Therefore, policies aimed at improving information dissemination and increasing direct support could benefit carers in Brent, helping to alleviate some of the challenges associated with higher deprivation.
Overall, carers in Brent face challenges in accessing information and may benefit from enhanced support services. Improving the availability of information and increasing direct support options could help address these issues, leading to better outcomes for carers and the people they support. Focusing on these areas could ensure that carers receive the necessary assistance to manage their responsibilities effectively.
✨ ✅ ❌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
The area has 82 community-based adult social care services in 2024. This is more than the national average of 63.8 providers. This means that people can access more support in their own homes or communities. There are 49 residential social care providers, which is less than the national average of 91. This suggests that fewer people go into residential care homes here.
Only 14.3% of care providers in the area need improvement or are inadequate. This is better than the national average of 16.8%. It shows that most care providers offer good quality services.
The turnover rate for care staff is 19%, which is the same as the national average. This means staff leave their jobs at a similar rate to other places. The vacancy rate is 16.5%, which is much higher than the national average of 8.4%. This means there are many unfilled jobs in care services.
Even with many vacancies, 68% of providers say recruiting staff is more challenging or much more challenging. Nationally, this figure is 79.8%. Also, 56% of providers find it hard to retain staff, compared to 68.1% nationally. This suggests that, while there are many job openings, providers here find it a bit easier to recruit and keep staff than in other areas.
The area is very densely populated, with 7,860 residents per square kilometre. The national average is 2,469 residents per square kilometre. The area is also more deprived, with a mean deprivation decile of 4.16, lower than the national average of 5.9. This might mean that more people need care services, and it might be harder to find staff because of competition for jobs.
The fact that there are more community care providers and fewer residential care providers might show a preference for supporting people at home. In a crowded urban area, there might be less space for large care homes. Community care allows people to stay in familiar surroundings.
The high vacancy rate could affect how well care services work. If there are not enough staff, existing workers might have to do more, which could affect the quality of care. To fix this, it might help to make care jobs more attractive, perhaps by improving pay or working conditions.
In summary, the area has strong community care services and good quality providers. However, the high vacancy rate is a challenge. Addressing this issue is important to ensure that care needs are met now and in the future.
✨ ✅ ❌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
[1] "No data available for this local authority"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.
In the latest check for 2024/25, Brent got a score of 62 from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for Local Authority services. The national average score is 64.7. Brent's status is "Requires Improvement", which means there are areas that need to get better.
Looking at hospital discharges, in November 2024, Brent had a rate of 51.2 discharges from acceptable trusts. The national average is 89. This lower rate might mean there are problems with hospital capacity or working with community services. Also, 11.16% of discharges in Brent were delayed, which is a bit below the national average of 12.3%. This shows that even though fewer discharges are delayed, the overall discharge rate is lower, which could affect how well services run.
The average delay for patients in Brent is 0.53 days, compared to the national average of 0.7 days. This shorter delay is good and means that when discharge plans are set, patients move on more quickly in Brent than in other places. But since the overall discharge rate is low, it might mean that only some patients are discharged quickly, while others stay in care longer.
In 2024, 54% of people in Brent said they were satisfied with their care and support. The national average is 64.7%. Another source says that dissatisfaction with social care is at 57% in Brent, which shows many people are not happy. This might be because of staff levels, funding issues, or high demand for services.
Only 55.2% of people using services in Brent feel it is easy to find information about services. The national average is 68.2%. This suggests there may be problems with communication or not enough information being shared.
Brent's population has slightly decreased from 347,424 in 2019 to 344,521 in 2023, while the national average has gone up. Even with a smaller population, Brent has a very high population density of 7,859.6 people per square kilometre, compared to the national average of 2,468.5. This high density may make it harder to provide social care services and affect how easy it is to deliver services.
The mean deprivation decile for Brent is 4.16, which is lower than the national average of 5.9. This means Brent has higher levels of deprivation. Economic problems can increase the need for social care services and make it harder to improve service quality. Also, Brent is completely urban with 0% rural area, while the national average is 34.6% rural. This may affect the types of social care needs and how communities support each other.
The lower satisfaction rates and service challenges suggest that Brent needs to improve access to information, increase hospital discharge rates, and address the reasons why people are unhappy with services. Actions could include better communication, investing in community support, and reviewing how services are delivered to meet the needs of a densely populated, urban area with higher deprivation levels.
✨ ✅ ❌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 Brent, spending on social care is important for many people. This analysis looks at how much money is spent on social care in Brent, compared to the rest of England.
The gross total expenditure on social care in Brent is £42,411.45 per 100,000 people. This is less than the England average of £47,758.16 per 100,000 people. Brent has many people living in a small area, with 7,859.6 residents per square kilometre, much higher than the England average of 2,468.5. This high population density means that many people may need social care services.
The net total expenditure in Brent is £37,330.21 per 100,000 people. This is also less than the England average of £40,471.81 per 100,000 people. Net expenditure is the amount spent after taking away income from client contributions and other sources. Lower net spending may mean that Brent has fewer resources for social care.
People who receive social care sometimes pay towards the cost. In Brent, client contributions are £5,081.24 per 100,000 people. This is lower than the England average of £7,286.35 per 100,000 people. This might mean that people in Brent have less money to contribute to their care, possibly due to higher levels of deprivation. Brent's mean deprivation decile is 4.16, compared to the England mean of 5.9, indicating more deprivation.
The NHS also contributes to social care. In Brent, NHS contributions are £4,226.45 per 100,000 people, which is less than the England average of £7,878.45 per 100,000 people. Lower NHS contributions may affect the amount of money available for social care services in Brent.
Brent spends less on social care per person than the England average, but has higher population density and more deprivation. This suggests that there may be more people needing social care services, but less money available to meet these needs. Lower client and NHS contributions might reduce funding for social care.
These factors could mean that some people in Brent do not receive the social care they need. Policymakers might consider increasing funding for social care in Brent to help meet the needs of the community. More support could improve the well-being of people who rely on social care services.
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