This page provides an overview of social care in Brighton and Hove, 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: Brighton and Hove
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: Brighton and Hove
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 Brighton and Hove. 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
Brighton and Hove has an age-standardised proportion of people with disabilities at 19.5%, which is higher than the national average of 17.6%. This suggests that a larger segment of the population may require support services compared to other areas in England.
In 2024, there were 1,015 requests for care from working-age individuals in Brighton and Hove, amounting to 362.97 per 100,000 people. This figure is significantly lower than the national average of 1,143.48 per 100,000. Despite having a higher proportion of disabled residents, fewer people are requesting care services. This could indicate potential barriers to accessing support, such as lack of awareness or difficulties in navigating the care system.
The number of people aged 18 to 64 receiving care services in 2024 was 1,885, which is 674.09 per 100,000 people. This is higher than the national average of 532.68 per 100,000. The higher uptake of services may reflect effective local outreach and support programs that connect individuals with the care they need. It may also suggest that once individuals are engaged with the system, they are more likely to receive ongoing support.
Community-based support is a significant part of care provision in Brighton and Hove. For instance, 970 individuals received community care with a council-managed personal budget, equating to 346.88 per 100,000 people. This exceeds the national average of 266.67 per 100,000, highlighting the area's commitment to enabling people to live independently in the community.
However, the use of residential and nursing care is also higher than average. Residential care services were used by 260 individuals (92.98 per 100,000 people) compared to the national average of 60.61 per 100,000. Nursing care services had 55 users (19.67 per 100,000 people) against the national average of 13.75 per 100,000. This may indicate a higher demand for intensive support services, possibly due to the needs of the disabled population.
Brighton and Hove has a population density of 3,345.3 people per square kilometre, considerably higher than the national average of 2,468.5. The area's mean deprivation decile is 5.55, slightly below the national mean of 5.9, suggesting moderate levels of deprivation. The higher standard deviation in deprivation scores (2.68 compared to the national 2.3) indicates greater inequality within the area.
The combination of a higher proportion of disabled residents and a densely populated area presents unique challenges for service provision. The lower number of care requests among working-age individuals might point to unmet needs or barriers in accessing services. Efforts to raise awareness and simplify access to care could help address these issues.
The higher uptake of community-based care reflects a positive trend towards supporting individuals in their own homes. However, the increased use of residential and nursing care services suggests that some individuals require more intensive support. This could have implications for resource allocation, indicating a need for investment in both community services and specialized care facilities.
Brighton and Hove exhibits a higher demand for care services, especially among the disabled population. While community support is strong, attention should be given to understanding why fewer working-age individuals are requesting care. Addressing potential barriers and ensuring equitable access to services will be crucial in meeting the needs of all residents. Strategic planning and targeted interventions can help enhance service delivery and improve outcomes for disabled people 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
This report examines data on older people in Brighton and Hove, focusing on those aged 65 and over. It looks at population trends from 2019 to 2023, requests for care in 2024, and the types of care received. The report also compares these figures with national averages to understand the local context.
The proportion of older people in Brighton and Hove has risen slightly over the years. In 2019, about 13.8% of the population were aged 65 and over. By 2023, this increased to 14.2%. This is lower than the national average, which was around 18.4% in 2019 and 18.5% in 2023. This suggests that Brighton and Hove has a younger population compared to the rest of England.
The gradual increase in older residents may impact local services. As the number of older people grows, there may be a higher demand for health and social care services. Planning for this change is important to meet future needs.
In 2024, there were 2,130 requests for care from people aged 65 and over in Brighton and Hove. This is about 761.7 requests per 100,000 people. The national average is 2,437.85 requests per 100,000 people. This means that fewer older people in Brighton and Hove are requesting care compared to the national average.
This lower rate might be due to several factors. It could be because there are fewer older people in the city. It might also mean that older residents are healthier or have other forms of support, such as family or community networks.
In the same year, 2,255 older people received care services. This is about 806.4 people per 100,000, whereas the national average is 1,002.86 people per 100,000. Again, this shows that fewer older people are receiving care in Brighton and Hove compared to the rest of England.
This could indicate that there is less need for care services, or it might suggest that some older people are not accessing the care they need. Barriers such as awareness of services, availability, or cultural factors could play a role.
Older people in Brighton and Hove receive different types of care:
These figures show that more older people in Brighton and Hove receive nursing care than the national average. Fewer receive residential or community care. This might be due to the city's high population density and low percentage of rural areas. Urban settings often have more nursing facilities but fewer residential homes with large spaces.
In 2025, some older people requested help with various issues:
Higher requests in these areas suggest that older people in Brighton and Hove may need more support to navigate the care system. They might require assistance with understanding assessments, creating care plans, or managing costs.
Brighton and Hove had a population of about 279,920 in 2019. This decreased slightly to 276,454 in 2021, then rose to 279,637 in 2023. The population density is high, with 3,345.3 people per square kilometre in 2021, compared to 2,468.5 nationally. Only 1.2% of the area is rural, much less than the national average of 34.6%.
The mean deprivation decile is 5.55, close to the national average of 5.9. This means that the area is neither significantly deprived nor affluent compared to the rest of England.
The increasing number of older people in Brighton and Hove means that demand for care services may grow. The higher rate of nursing care suggests a need for medical services. Fewer people receiving residential or community care might indicate gaps in these services or a preference to stay at home.
Higher requests for help with assessments and care plans show that older residents may need more support to access services. Providing clear information and assistance could help meet their needs.
Planning for these changes is important. Ensuring that care services are available and accessible will help support the well-being of older people in Brighton and Hove.
✨ ✅ ❌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
This report looks at carers in Brighton and Hove. It focuses on unpaid carers, their social contact, and the support they receive. We compare local data with national averages to understand the situation better.
In 2021, there were 7,526 unpaid carers per 100,000 people in Brighton and Hove. This is lower than the England average of 8,204 per 100,000. This means fewer people in Brighton and Hove are taking on unpaid caring roles compared to the rest of the country. This might be due to the city's younger population or the availability of paid care services.
In 2024, 29.6% of carers in Brighton and Hove reported that they had as much social contact as they would like. This is slightly higher than the national average of 29.3%. This suggests that carers in the city feel a bit more connected socially. The higher population density of 3,345 residents per square kilometre, compared to the England average of 2,468, might make it easier for carers to maintain social connections.
Regarding support, 96.6 per 100,000 carers in Brighton and Hove received direct payments in 2024. This is lower than the England average of 149.9 per 100,000. This means fewer carers are receiving financial help directly. Other types of direct support like part direct payments and managed personal budgets were not available locally, while they are offered elsewhere.
However, 384.4 per 100,000 carers received information, advice, or signposting services. This is higher than the national average of 338.7 per 100,000. This indicates that carers in Brighton and Hove have better access to helpful information. Only 30.4 per 100,000 carers received no direct support, which is much lower than the England average of 129.6 per 100,000. This suggests that most carers in the city receive some form of support.
For respite care or support involving the person they care for, 51.9 per 100,000 carers in Brighton and Hove received such services, compared to 70.0 per 100,000 nationally. This means fewer carers in the city get breaks or additional help through services provided to the person they care for.
In 2024, 60.2% of carers in Brighton and Hove felt it was easy to find information about services. This is slightly higher than the national average of 59.3%. The city's efforts to provide information might be paying off, helping carers know where to get help.
The data suggests that while carers in Brighton and Hove have good access to information and feel socially connected, they receive less direct financial support and fewer respite services than carers elsewhere. The lower number of unpaid carers might mean that some people who need care are using paid services instead. The city's urban setting and lower rural population of just 1.2% might make it easier to deliver information services but could also affect the availability of respite care options.
Understanding these patterns can help local authorities plan better support for carers. Increasing direct payments and respite services could help carers who might be feeling the strain of their roles. Continuing to provide easy access to information will remain important.
Carers in Brighton and Hove benefit from good access to information and feel slightly more socially connected than carers nationally. However, they receive less direct financial support and respite care. Addressing these gaps can improve the wellbeing of carers in the city and ensure they have the support they need.
✨ ✅ ❌Care providers are essential for delivering social care services, including home care agencies and care homes. The quality of care they provide can vary significantly, impacting the well-being of service users. This section examines the number and types of care providers, their quality ratings, and some of the difficulties of maintaining high standards. Understanding these metrics is crucial for ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive high-quality care.
The number and types of care providers in a local authority can impact the availability and quality of social care services. Understanding the distribution of care providers directly influences people’s ability to get the care they need.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rates care providers based on their quality of care, safety, and effectiveness. Understanding the quality ratings of care providers can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of care providers with low ratings may indicate a need for improved training and support, while a high number of care providers with high ratings may suggest that existing services are effective.
Framework rates are the agreed prices that local authorities pay care providers for social care services, such as home care and residential care. These rates are crucial because they determine the affordability, availability, and quality of care in a city. If rates are too low, providers may struggle to sustain services, leading to workforce shortages, poor care quality, and limited access for those relying on council-funded care.
Understanding framework rates helps assess whether local authorities are adequately funding social care, ensuring fair pay for care workers, and maintaining a sustainable care market that meets residents’ needs.
?
Several providers are finding it increasingly difficult to stay in business, and sometimes several providers collapse at once. For example, when pay rises are approved without consultation and effective immediately, providers may not be able to afford to pay their staff. This can cause a chain-effect which leads to collapse in the market, and a lack of care for those who need it.
?
Workforce turnover rate is a measure of the number of staff leaving a care provider over a specific period. High turnover rates can indicate issues with staff retention, such as low pay, poor working conditions, or lack of training and support. Understanding workforce turnover rates can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed to improve staff retention and ensure high-quality care services.
NOTE: This data series is based on regional data
Staff retention is crucial for maintaining high-quality care services. Understanding the challenges faced by care providers in retaining staff can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of care providers struggling to retain staff may indicate a need for improved training and support, while a low number of care providers facing retention challenges may suggest that existing services are effective.
This dataset describes the results of a survey asking care providers about their challenges in retaining staff.
NOTE: This data series is based on regional data
Workforce_survey_data_tables, Tab 6_2
Vacancy rate is a measure of the number of unfilled positions within a care provider over a specific period. High vacancy rates can indicate issues with staff recruitment, such as low pay, poor working conditions, or lack of training and support. Understanding vacancy rates can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed to improve staff recruitment and ensure high-quality care services.
Recruiting staff is essential for maintaining high-quality care services, and for backfilling staff when they leave. Understanding the challenges faced by care providers in recruiting staff can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of care providers struggling to recruit staff may indicate a need for improved training and support, or can point to a systemic problem, such as low pay, poor working conditions, or not enough people interested in this job type.
Staff recruitment is important as it’s one of the areas that have levers to pull outside of social care, for example, by changing how many visas are awarded to social care workers.
NOTE: This data series is based on regional data
Workforce_survey_data_tables, Tab 6_2
Brighton and Hove has 50 community-based adult social care services and 82 residential social care providers in 2024. These numbers are slightly below the national averages of 63.8 and 91, respectively. With a population of about 279,637 in 2023, which is smaller than the national average of 377,060.9, the city's number of care providers is proportionate to its population size. The city is densely populated, with 3,345.3 residents per square kilometre compared to the national average of 2,468.5. This high density means that services are more concentrated and possibly more accessible to residents.
In terms of quality, 14.4% of care providers in Brighton and Hove were rated as needing improvement or were inadequate in 2024. This is better than the national average of 16.8%. A lower percentage suggests that care providers in the city are performing well and meeting the required standards more effectively than in other areas. This could be due to better management practices or more effective oversight within the city's care services.
The turnover rate for care staff in Brighton and Hove was 26.7% in 2023/24, which matches the average for the South East region. The vacancy rate was lower at 5.5%, compared to the national mean of 8.4%. A lower vacancy rate indicates that the city is relatively successful in filling positions. However, 82.9% of care providers reported that recruiting staff was more challenging or much more challenging, higher than the regional average of 79.8%. Additionally, 72.4% found retaining staff more challenging, compared to 68.1% regionally. This suggests that while vacancies are being filled, there are underlying difficulties in both attracting and keeping staff in the long term.
The city's care services seem to be maintaining quality despite staffing challenges. The lower percentage of inadequate providers implies that current staff are delivering good care. However, the high levels of difficulty in recruiting and retaining staff could lead to strains on the existing workforce. Overworked staff might experience burnout, which could eventually affect the quality of care provided. Considering the city's high population density, demand for care services may be concentrated, putting additional pressure on providers. Policymakers might need to address these staffing challenges by improving working conditions, offering incentives, or providing better support for care workers to ensure the sustainability of high-quality care services in Brighton and Hove.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
Brighton and Hove is a city with a population of around 279,637 people in 2023. This is smaller than the average population size in England, which is about 377,060.9 people. The city is more crowded than other places, with 3,345.3 people per square kilometre compared to the England average of 2,468.5 people.
In November 2024, 98.05% of discharges in Brighton and Hove were from acceptable trusts. This is higher than the national average of 89%. This means most people are leaving care from trusted places in the city. It shows good performance in making sure patients are in safe hands when they leave hospitals or care centres.
The percentage of discharges that were delayed in Brighton and Hove was 11.24%, slightly lower than the national average of 12.3%. This suggests the city is doing a bit better than average in getting people out of care when they are ready. However, the average delay for those who did have delays was 1.26 days, which is higher than the national average of 0.7 days. This means that while fewer people face delays, those who do might wait longer.
In 2024, 66.7% of people in Brighton and Hove said they were satisfied with their care and support. This is higher than the national average of 64.7%. It shows that more people in the city feel happy with the help they get. But another source, NatCen, found that 57% of people were dissatisfied with social care. This suggests there might be mixed feelings about care services, and some people might not be getting what they need.
About 68.6% of people using services in Brighton and Hove felt it was easy to find information about services in 2024. This is slightly higher than the national average of 68.2%. It indicates that most people can get the information they need, which helps them use services more effectively.
There is no data available for Brighton and Hove on complaints received by the ombudsman per 100,000 people. The national average is 4.45 complaints per 100,000 people. Without this data, it's hard to compare how often people in the city raise formal complaints about services.
The city's population has stayed around 279,000 people from 2019 to 2023, while the national average population has grown. The high population density in Brighton and Hove might put more pressure on services, as more people live in a smaller area. The mean deprivation decile is 5.55, close to the national average of 5.9. This means the city has similar levels of deprivation as other places in England. However, the higher standard deviation of 2.68 shows there is more variation in deprivation across different areas in the city.
Only 1.2% of Brighton and Hove is rural, compared to 34.6% nationally. This urban setting can affect the types of services needed and how they are delivered. Urban areas might have better access to services but also face challenges like higher demand and congestion.
The data suggests that Brighton and Hove is performing well in some areas like discharges from acceptable trusts and satisfaction with care. However, the longer average delays for those who experience delays might need attention. The mixed feelings about social care satisfaction indicate that while many are happy, there is still a significant number of people who are not satisfied. This could be due to factors like staffing levels, funding, or high demand for services.
Given the high population density and urban environment, services might be under more strain. Policymakers might consider allocating more resources to handle the higher demand and to reduce delays in discharges. They could also look into why some people are dissatisfied with social care and work on improving those aspects.
Overall, while Brighton and Hove shows positive signs in some areas, there are still challenges to address to improve the quality of services for all residents.
✨ ✅ ❌We need to understand how much money is being spent on social care, and what this provides. First, let’s look at values reported by local authorities.
Gross Current Expenditure (2023-24) captures the total operational cost of services, indicating overall demand and financial commitment. This includes spending on residential and non-residential care, direct payments, and other social care services. Understanding gross expenditure helps assess the scale of social care provision and financial pressures on local authorities.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
This figure reflects the net cost of social care provision to the local authority, indicating the extent of financial support required to meet service demands. Understanding net expenditure helps assess the financial sustainability of social care services and the commitment level of the local authority.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Client Contributions, otherwise known as “Charging”, show the extent to which service users offset costs. Understanding client contributions helps assess the financial burden on individuals and the local authority, highlighting the need for fair and equitable funding mechanisms.
It is important to note that not all local authorities charge for social care services, and that charging can be a barrier to accessing care for some individuals.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Income from NHS reflects external funding and collaboration with the health sector. Understanding NHS contributions helps understand the level of integration between health and social care.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Budget Cuts indicate financial constraints and potential service reductions. Sometimes, budget cuts are explicit, but other times, they aren’t mentioned directly, making tracking this information difficult to access.
As such, this data is not consistently available for all local authorities.
Access Social Care have made a series of Freedom of Information requests about the government’s own assessment of sufficiency of social care funding. The social care sector is in crisis, yet the government refuses to disclose how it determines funding sufficiency. Without transparency, there is little accountability, no independent scrutiny to improve decision-making, and government trust heavily impacted. Evidence from across the sector indicates a severe funding gap, but without open data, meaningful reform remains impossible. True solutions require honesty about the scale of the problem to then work towards a fair and equitable funding model.
The government appears to know how much money is required for social care, and yet they are not making that known.
✨ ✅ ❌?
In 2024, Brighton and Hove spent more on social care per 100,000 people than the average in England. The gross total expenditure was £56,644.86 per 100,000 people. This is higher than the England average of £47,758.16. This means that the area invested more in social care services.
The net total expenditure was also higher. Brighton and Hove spent £49,220.60 per 100,000 people, while the England average was £40,471.81. Net expenditure is the amount spent after subtracting income from client contributions and other sources. This suggests that the council put significant funds into social care.
Clients in Brighton and Hove contributed £7,424.27 per 100,000 people towards their care. This is slightly more than the England average of £7,286.35. This means users of social care services paid a bit more in this area.
The NHS contributed £9,007.39 per 100,000 people in Brighton and Hove. The England average was £7,878.45. This shows strong support from the NHS for social care in the area.
Brighton and Hove is more densely populated than the England average. There are 3,345.3 people per square kilometre, compared to 2,468.5 in England overall. A higher population density can lead to greater demand for social care services. More people living close together might need more support.
The population has stayed around 278,000 to 280,000 people from 2019 to 2023. This is smaller than the England average population. The area is mostly urban, with only 1.2% being rural. In contrast, 34.6% of England is rural. Urban areas often have different social care needs than rural ones.
The deprivation index shows that Brighton and Hove has a mean decile of 5.55. The England average is 5.9. This means the area has average levels of deprivation. However, the variation is higher, with a standard deviation of 2.68 compared to 2.3 in England. This suggests some areas are more deprived than others. Areas with higher deprivation often need more social care.
The higher spending on social care in Brighton and Hove might be due to these factors. A dense population and varied levels of deprivation can increase the need for services. The higher contributions from clients and the NHS show that funding comes from multiple sources.
This spending could help provide better services to residents. By investing more, the council might meet the needs of people who require care. It is important for social care services to have enough funding to support everyone.
✨ ✅ ❌