This page provides an overview of social care in Cheshire East, 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: Cheshire East
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: Cheshire East
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 Cheshire East. 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
In Cheshire East, the proportion of people with disabilities is 16.2%. This is slightly lower than the national average of 17.6%. This suggests that fewer people in Cheshire East have disabilities compared to the rest of England.
In 2024, there were 7,215 requests for care from people of working age in Cheshire East. This is 1,749 requests per 100,000 people. The national average is 1,143 requests per 100,000 people. This means that Cheshire East has more requests for care from working-age people than the average.
This higher number could mean that more people in Cheshire East are aware of the services available. It might also mean that there is a greater need for care among working-age people in this area.
In 2024, 1,805 people aged 18 to 64 received care in Cheshire East. This is 438 people per 100,000, which is lower than the national average of 533 people per 100,000. This suggests that fewer people are receiving care in Cheshire East compared to other areas.
Different types of care are provided in Cheshire East:
Nursing Care: 65 people received nursing care, which is 16 people per 100,000. The national average is 14 people per 100,000. This shows that slightly more people receive nursing care in Cheshire East.
Residential Care: 120 people received residential care, or 29 people per 100,000. The national average is 61 people per 100,000. This means that fewer people use residential care in Cheshire East.
Community Care with Managed Personal Budgets: 1,130 people received this type of care, which is 274 people per 100,000. The national average is 267 people per 100,000. This suggests that more people in Cheshire East prefer community care with managed personal budgets.
These figures indicate that people in Cheshire East may prefer care in the community rather than residential settings.
In 2025, there were more requests for help with certain services:
Charging: 45 people asked for help with charging, which is 11 people per 100,000. The national average is 6 people per 100,000. This might mean that people find the charging system confusing or need more support with payments.
Information Seeking: 18 people requested help with finding information, which is 4 people per 100,000. The national average is 3 people per 100,000. This suggests that people may need more accessible information about services.
Cheshire East has some unique features that may affect these figures:
Population Growth: The population has grown from 390,556 in 2019 to 412,458 in 2023. This growing population might increase the demand for care services.
Rural Area: Over half of Cheshire East (50.9%) is rural, compared to the national average of 34.6%. Rural areas might have less access to services, which could affect how people use them.
Lower Deprivation: Cheshire East has a mean deprivation decile of 7.11, higher than the national average of 5.9. This means it is less deprived than other areas. Less deprivation could lead to better health outcomes, but might also mean people expect higher quality services.
Population Density: There are 342 people per square kilometre in Cheshire East, while the national average is 2,469 people. Lower density might make it harder to provide services to everyone.
The higher number of requests for care among working-age people, but fewer people receiving care, could mean there are gaps in the services provided. People might find it hard to access the care they need. The higher demand for help with charging and finding information suggests that people need more support in these areas.
To address these issues, service providers might consider improving access to care in rural areas. They could also provide clearer information about charges and make it easier for people to find the services they need.
✨ ✅ ❌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
From 2019 to 2023, the proportion of older people in Cheshire East increased slightly, from 22.4% to 22.5%. This is higher than the national average, which ranged from 18.4% to 18.9% during the same period. This suggests that Cheshire East has an ageing population. This could be due to longer life expectancy or younger people moving away. The higher proportion means that a significant part of the community is over 65 years old.
In 2024, there were 12,010 requests for care from people aged 65 and over in Cheshire East. This equals 2,912 requests per 100,000 people. The national average was 2,438 requests per 100,000 people. The higher rate in Cheshire East might be because there are more older people living there. It could also mean that older residents need more support or are more aware of available services.
Also in 2024, 4,010 older people in Cheshire East were receiving care services. This is 972 people per 100,000, which is slightly below the national average of 1,003 per 100,000. Even though there are more requests for care, fewer people are receiving care compared to the national average. This could mean that not all needs are being met, or that care is provided differently in Cheshire East.
When we look at the types of care, 880 older people were in nursing homes. This is 213 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average of 122 per 100,000. There were 925 people in residential care, which is 224 per 100,000, slightly below the national average of 250 per 100,000. Fewer older people were receiving community care through direct payments, with only 100 people or 24 per 100,000, compared to the national average of 55 per 100,000. This might show a preference for nursing care or reflect the availability of community services in Cheshire East.
In 2025, older people in Cheshire East asked for help mainly with charging for services. There were 45 requests, or 10.91 per 100,000 people, which is higher than the national average of 5.72 per 100,000. There were also more requests for information, with 18 requests or 4.36 per 100,000, compared to the national average of 2.6 per 100,000. This suggests that older residents may need more support understanding service costs and accessing information.
The rising number of older people and higher requests for care indicate growing demand for services in Cheshire East. The area has a larger population than average and is more rural, with 50.9% rural areas compared to the national average of 34.6%. This might make it harder to deliver services efficiently. Although Cheshire East is less deprived than other areas, with a mean deprivation decile of 7.11, some residents still struggle with service costs. These findings suggest that local authorities need to plan carefully. They might need to improve access to community care and provide more information about services and costs. Addressing the gap between the high number of requests and the lower number of people receiving care is important. This will help ensure that the needs of the ageing population in Cheshire East are met 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
Cheshire East is a region with a growing population. From 2019 to 2023, the population increased from 390,556 to 412,458. This growth is higher than the England average, which rose from 367,516.7 to 377,060.9 during the same period. Cheshire East has a low population density of 341.9 residents per square kilometre, compared to the national average of 2,468.5. This means Cheshire East is more rural, with 50.9% of its area classified as rural, while the England average is 34.6%. The area has a mean deprivation decile of 7.11, higher than the national mean of 5.9, indicating less deprivation overall.
In 2021, Cheshire East had approximately 34,458 unpaid carers. This is based on 8,604 unpaid carers per 100,000 people, which is slightly higher than the national average of 8,203.68 per 100,000. The higher number of unpaid carers may be due to the rural nature of the area, where community and family support are important. An ageing population could also contribute, as more elderly people may need care from family members.
In 2024, only 25.9% of carers in Cheshire East reported that they had as much social contact as they would like. This is lower than the national average of 29.3%. This suggests that carers in Cheshire East may feel more socially isolated. The rural setting, with fewer people nearby, might make it harder for carers to meet others and join support groups.
Various types of support are provided to carers in Cheshire East. In 2024, about 73 carers received direct payments, based on 18.18 per 100,000, which is lower than the national average of 149.93 per 100,000. Data for part direct payments and CASSR-managed personal budgets were not available. However, around 1,623 carers received CASSR-commissioned support only, at 404.89 per 100,000, which is higher than the national average of 101.84 per 100,000. Additionally, about 345 carers received information, advice, and other universal services or signposting, at 84.86 per 100,000, which is lower than the national average of 338.7 per 100,000. These figures show that Cheshire East relies more on commissioned support rather than direct payments or advice services. This might be due to local policies or how resources are used.
In 2024, 61.1% of carers in Cheshire East felt it was easy to find information about services. This is slightly higher than the national average of 59.3%. This suggests that carers in Cheshire East can find information about available services more easily, which is positive. Efforts to provide accessible information seem to be working in the area.
The data shows that carers in Cheshire East may be experiencing social isolation and could benefit from more support services and opportunities for social contact. The reliance on commissioned support rather than direct payments suggests that carers may have less choice over the support they receive. Increasing access to direct payments and providing more information and advice services could give carers more control. Also, addressing social isolation through support groups and community activities could improve carers' well-being.
Cheshire East has a higher proportion of unpaid carers compared to the national average, possibly due to its rural nature and population structure. Carers in the area report lower levels of social contact, highlighting a need for actions to reduce isolation. While access to information is slightly better than average, there is room to improve support services to meet carers' needs more effectively. Policymakers should consider these findings to allocate resources appropriately and enhance support for unpaid carers in Cheshire East.
✨ ✅ ❌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
In 2024, Cheshire East had 71 community-based adult social care providers. This number is higher than the national average of 63.8. There were also 96 residential social care providers, compared to the national average of 91. This means people in Cheshire East have more care providers available than in other parts of the country.
About 19% of care providers in Cheshire East needed improvement or were inadequate in 2024. This is higher than the national average of 16.8%. This suggests that some care providers in the area are not meeting the expected standards. The higher number of providers needing improvement may affect the quality of care for residents.
In the year 2023/24, the staff turnover rate in Cheshire East was 25.43%, which is similar to the regional average of 25.4%. The vacancy rate was 8.51%, slightly higher than the national average of 8.4%. Many care providers found it more challenging to recruit and retain staff. About 81% said recruiting staff was more challenging or much more challenging, compared to 79.8% regionally. Around 69% found it more challenging to retain staff, compared to 68.1% in the region.
Cheshire East's population has been growing, from 390,556 in 2019 to 412,458 in 2023. This growth is higher than the national average. The area is more rural, with about 51% of people living in rural areas, compared to 34.6% nationally. The population density is low, with 342 residents per square kilometre, while the national average is 2,468.5 residents per square kilometre.
The area is less deprived, with a mean deprivation decile of 7.11, higher than the national average of 5.9. This means Cheshire East is relatively affluent. The rural nature and affluence of the area may affect the availability of local workers for care jobs.
The higher number of care providers might be needed to serve a growing and spread-out population. However, the higher percentage of providers needing improvement is a concern. Staffing challenges are significant, with many providers finding it hard to recruit and keep staff. This could be due to the rural setting, where care workers may need to travel longer distances, and fewer local people may be seeking these jobs.
Cheshire East offers more care providers than the national average, which is positive for access to services. However, the quality of some providers needs attention, and staffing issues are a challenge. To improve care services, efforts may be needed to support providers in raising quality standards. Strategies to make recruiting and retaining staff easier, such as offering training or travel support, could help address staffing shortages. This would benefit both care providers and the residents who rely on their services.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
Cheshire East is a rural area with a growing population. In 2023, it had 412,458 residents, more than the national average of 377,061. The area is less crowded, with 342 people per square kilometre compared to 2,469 nationally. Cheshire East is less deprived, with a mean deprivation score of 7.11 out of 10, while the national average is 5.9. There is more variation in deprivation levels within the area.
In November 2024, Cheshire East had 27 discharges from acceptable trusts, fewer than the national average of 89. However, only 9.5% of these discharges were delayed, less than the national average of 12.3%. The average delay was 0.59 days, shorter than the national average of 0.7 days. This shows that, although there are fewer discharges, the process is quicker and more efficient.
In 2024, 68.5% of people in Cheshire East were satisfied with their care and support, higher than the national average of 64.7%. Also, 71.6% found it easy to get information about services, more than the national average of 68.2%. This suggests that Cheshire East provides good services and information.
However, another survey reported that 57% were dissatisfied with social care. This difference may be due to different survey methods. It shows that it's important to consider various sources to understand people's views.
In 2024, there were 5.33 Ombudsman complaints per 100,000 people in Cheshire East, more than the national average of 4.45. The number of complaints decided was 4.85 per 100,000 people, also higher than the national average of 4.12. This could mean that some people are unhappy with services, or they are more aware of how to make complaints. It suggests areas that need attention.
The data shows that Cheshire East is doing well in areas like efficient hospital discharges and high satisfaction with care. But the higher number of complaints indicates room for improvement. As Cheshire East is rural with varied deprivation levels, services need to be accessible to everyone. Improving communication and addressing concerns can help enhance services.
✨ ✅ ❌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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This report looks at how much Cheshire East spends on social care in 2024. We compare this spending to the national average and see what it means for the people living there.
In Cheshire East, the gross total expenditure on social care is £48,609.49 per 100,000 people. This is slightly higher than the national average of £47,758.16 per 100,000 people. This means Cheshire East invests a bit more in social care services. This could be because they have a growing population that needs support.
The net total expenditure in Cheshire East is £40,107.59 per 100,000 people. This is a bit lower than the national average of £40,471.81 per 100,000 people. This suggests that after receiving income from clients and the NHS, Cheshire East spends about the same as other areas. It might mean they manage their resources efficiently.
People who use social care services in Cheshire East contribute £8,501.90 per 100,000 people. This is higher than the national average of £7,286.35 per 100,000 people. This could mean that residents can afford to pay more towards their care. Since Cheshire East is less deprived than other areas, many people might have higher incomes.
The NHS contributes £5,929.85 per 100,000 people in Cheshire East. This is less than the national average of £7,878.45 per 100,000 people. This might be because Cheshire East has fewer health needs that require NHS support. It could also be due to the rural nature of the area, making it harder for the NHS to provide services.
Cheshire East's population has grown from 390,556 in 2019 to 412,458 in 2023. This is higher than the average population in England, which was 377,060.9 in 2023. A growing population means more people might need social care services. This could explain why Cheshire East spends more on social care.
The area has 341.9 people per square kilometre, which is much lower than the England average of 2,468.5. This means Cheshire East is less crowded. Also, over half of the area (50.88%) is rural, compared to 34.6% in England. Providing social care in rural areas can be more difficult and costly because services are spread out.
Cheshire East has a mean deprivation decile of 7.11, higher than the England average of 5.9. A higher decile means less deprivation. This suggests that people in Cheshire East are generally better off. This might be why they can contribute more to their care costs.
Cheshire East spends a bit more on social care than other areas. Residents contribute more towards their care, and the NHS contributes less. The area is less deprived and has a growing, mostly rural population. These factors can affect how social care services are provided and funded.
The data shows that Cheshire East is investing in social care to meet the needs of its residents. The higher client contributions and lower NHS funding suggest a balance between public and personal funding. Understanding these patterns can help plan for future social care needs in the area.
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