This page provides an overview of social care in Cornwall, 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 Cornwall. 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
Cornwall has a higher proportion of disabled people compared to the national average. The disability rate in Cornwall is 19.8%, while the average across England is 17.6%. This means that nearly one in five people in Cornwall live with a disability.
In 2024, there were 6,955 requests for care from working-age adults in Cornwall. This is 1,202.6 requests per 100,000 people, which is slightly higher than the national average of 1,143.5 per 100,000. The higher rate of requests may be due to the higher number of disabled people in the area.
In the same year, 3,155 people aged 18 to 64 received care services in Cornwall. This is 545.5 people per 100,000, compared to the national average of 532.7 per 100,000. This suggests that more working-age adults receive care in Cornwall than in other parts of England.
The types of care services received vary. Community care with direct payments only is the most common, with 1,595 people using this service. This is 275.8 per 100,000 people, slightly higher than the national average of 266.7 per 100,000.
Nursing care services are less common, with 55 people receiving this care, which is 9.5 per 100,000 people. This is lower than the national average of 13.8 per 100,000. The rural nature of Cornwall may limit access to nursing facilities.
Residential care services are used by 340 people, or 58.8 per 100,000 people, close to the national average of 60.6 per 100,000. Community services managed through personal budgets are slightly higher in Cornwall, with 275.8 per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 266.7 per 100,000.
In 2025, people in Cornwall requested help in various areas. There were 54 requests for information seeking, which is 9.3 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average of 5.7 per 100,000. This suggests that people in Cornwall may need more information about available services.
Requests for help with care plans were also higher, at 2.8 per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of 1.4 per 100,000. This indicates a need for more support in planning care.
Cornwall's population has been increasing, reaching 578,324 in 2023. However, the population density is low at 160.9 people per square kilometre, compared to the national average of 2,468.5. Most people in Cornwall live in rural areas, with 92% of the population in rural settings, much higher than the national average of 34.6%.
Cornwall is also more deprived than other areas, with a mean deprivation decile of 4.54 compared to the national average of 5.9. Higher deprivation can lead to greater health needs and demand for services.
The higher number of disabled people and higher rates of care requests suggest a greater need for care services in Cornwall. The rural setting may make it harder to deliver services, as people may live far from facilities. Higher deprivation levels may also increase the demand for services.
Service providers may need to focus on improving access to care, especially in rural areas. Providing more information about available services could help meet the needs of the population. Allocating more resources to Cornwall may improve care outcomes.
Cornwall has a higher proportion of disabled people and a higher demand for care services among working-age adults. The rural and deprived nature of the area may contribute to these needs. Improving access to care and providing more support could help meet the demands of the community.
✨ ✅ ❌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
Cornwall has a growing population of older people. Between 2019 and 2023, the proportion of residents aged 65 and over increased from 24.9% to 25.8%. This is much higher than the national average, which rose from 18.4% to 18.5% in the same period. The higher proportion of older people in Cornwall may be due to its appeal as a retirement destination and the fact that many younger people move away for work.
The increasing number of older residents affects the demand for care services. In 2024, there were 20,240 requests for care from people aged 65 and over. This means there were 3,500 requests per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of 2,438 per 100,000. This suggests that older people in Cornwall have a higher need for support.
When it comes to receiving care, 5,820 older people in Cornwall accessed services in 2024. This is about 1,006 people per 100,000, which is similar to the national rate of 1,003 per 100,000. Despite the higher number of requests, the proportion of older people receiving care is in line with the national average. This could mean that some needs are not being fully met.
Looking at the types of care, more older people in Cornwall are in nursing and residential homes than the national average. In 2024, there were 134 nursing home residents per 100,000 people, compared to 122 nationally. For residential homes, the figures were 309 per 100,000 in Cornwall and 250 nationally. This might be because providing community care in rural areas like Cornwall is more challenging.
Community care services in Cornwall are less used than in other parts of the country. For example, only 19 people per 100,000 received commissioned support only, compared to 137 per 100,000 nationally. The rural nature of Cornwall, with 92% of the area being rural compared to 35% nationally, may make it harder to deliver these services. Lower population density (161 people per square kilometre in Cornwall versus 2,469 nationally) could also contribute to this challenge.
Cornwall has higher levels of deprivation, with a mean deprivation decile of 4.54 compared to the national average of 5.9. This means that people in Cornwall may have greater health and social care needs. Deprivation can impact on the ability of older people to access services and may increase the demand for support.
In 2025, more people in Cornwall requested help with assessments, care plans, charging, and information seeking than the national average. For instance, 9.34 people per 100,000 asked for help with charging, compared to 5.72 nationally. This could indicate that older people in Cornwall face more issues related to the cost of care or need more guidance on services available.
The combination of a higher proportion of older people, higher deprivation, and rural challenges suggests that Cornwall may need to allocate more resources to meet the needs of its aging population. It might be necessary to invest in community care services to allow older people to stay in their homes longer. Addressing issues related to access and information could also help meet unmet needs.
Overall, the data shows that Cornwall faces unique challenges in caring for its older residents. Understanding these factors is important for planning services and ensuring that the needs of older people 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
In 2021, Cornwall had 9,538 unpaid carers for every 100,000 people. This is more than the England average of 8,204 unpaid carers per 100,000 people. This means that more people in Cornwall are taking care of family members or friends without being paid.
Cornwall is a very rural area. About 92% of Cornwall is rural, compared to 35% for England overall. People in rural areas might have less access to formal care services. This could be why more people are unpaid carers in Cornwall.
In 2024, 29.6% of carers in Cornwall said they had as much social contact as they wanted. This is slightly higher than the England average of 29.3%. This means that carers in Cornwall feel a bit less isolated than carers in other parts of England. However, many carers still feel that they do not have enough social contact.
Also in 2024, 60.3% of carers in Cornwall felt it was easy to find information about services. This is a little higher than the England average of 59.3%. This suggests that carers in Cornwall can find help and advice slightly more easily than carers elsewhere.
When we look at support services, fewer carers in Cornwall are getting direct help compared to the England average. For example, only 69 carers per 100,000 people in Cornwall received direct payments. In England, the average is 150 carers per 100,000 people. Direct payments allow carers to arrange their own support. The lower number in Cornwall might mean that carers are not getting enough financial help.
Similarly, 71 carers per 100,000 people in Cornwall received information or advice services. The England average is 339 carers per 100,000 people. This means that carers in Cornwall might not be getting as much guidance or support as they need. This could be because services are harder to access in rural areas.
Cornwall has more areas of deprivation than the England average. In 2019, Cornwall's mean deprivation decile was 4.54, while the England mean was 5.9. A lower number means more deprivation. This might make it harder for carers to get the resources they need.
The population of Cornwall has been growing slightly, from 563,695 people in 2019 to 578,324 people in 2023. Despite the increase, the population density is low, with 161 people per square kilometre in 2021. The England average is much higher, at 2,469 people per square kilometre. This low density can make it harder to deliver services to everyone who needs them.
The data suggests that carers in Cornwall provide a lot of unpaid care but may not be getting enough support. They might benefit from more access to services like direct payments and information centres. Because Cornwall is rural and has higher deprivation, it is important to focus on improving services for carers. This could help them feel less isolated and better able to cope with their caring roles.
✨ ✅ ❌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
This report examines the care providers in Cornwall for the year 2024. We focus on the overall situation of care providers, considering numbers, quality, and staffing challenges. We also look at background information about Cornwall's population, rural nature, and levels of deprivation to understand the context.
In 2024, Cornwall has 92 community-based adult social care services. This is significantly higher than the national average of 63.8 services. Additionally, there are 208 residential social care providers in Cornwall, compared to the national average of 91. The higher numbers suggest that Cornwall has a strong provision of care services.
Cornwall's population has been growing, reaching 578,324 in 2023, which is larger than the England average of 377,060.9. Despite the larger population, Cornwall has a low population density of 160.9 residents per square kilometre, much lower than the England average of 2,468.5. The county is also predominantly rural, with 92% rural areas compared to the national average of 34.6%. This rural setting may require more care providers to serve dispersed communities effectively.
The proportion of care providers needing improvement or rated inadequate in Cornwall is 17%, which is close to the national average of 16.8%. This indicates that the quality of care providers in Cornwall is similar to other parts of the country. However, there is still room for improvement to ensure the highest standards of care for residents.
Staffing is a significant challenge for care providers in Cornwall. The turnover rate is 26.05%, nearly the same as the national average of 26.1%. This means that over a quarter of care staff are leaving their jobs each year, which can impact the continuity and quality of care.
The vacancy rate in Cornwall is 8.99%, slightly higher than the national average of 8.4%. This suggests that care providers are struggling to fill positions, leading to staffing shortages. A high percentage of providers report challenges in staffing: 89.45% find recruiting staff more challenging or much more challenging, compared to 79.8% nationally. Similarly, 76.68% find retaining staff more challenging, higher than the national figure of 68.1%.
These challenges may be influenced by Cornwall's rural nature and higher levels of deprivation. With a mean deprivation decile of 4.54, lower than the national average of 5.9, Cornwall faces economic disadvantages that can make it harder to attract and keep staff. The rural setting may also contribute to difficulties, as travel between work locations can be time-consuming.
The higher number of care providers is positive but must be balanced against staffing challenges. If care providers cannot recruit and retain enough qualified staff, the quality of care may suffer. This can lead to increased pressure on existing staff, potentially leading to higher turnover rates.
To address these issues, strategies could include improving employment conditions, offering better training and career progression, and providing support for travel in rural areas. Policymakers might also consider investing in local infrastructure to make rural areas more accessible and attractive for care workers.
Cornwall has a strong network of care providers, aligning with its larger and growing population. While the quality of care is on par with national averages, significant staffing challenges could impact service delivery. By understanding and addressing the factors contributing to recruitment and retention difficulties, Cornwall can work towards ensuring high-quality care for all its residents.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
Cornwall has a population of 578,324 in 2023, higher than the England average of 377,060.9. It is a mostly rural area, with 92% of its land being rural, compared to the national average of 34.6%. The population density is low, at 160.9 people per square kilometre, while the England average is 2,468.5. Cornwall has a mean deprivation decile of 4.54, below the national average of 5.9, indicating higher levels of deprivation.
In November 2024, 99.94% of discharges in Cornwall were from acceptable trusts within the local authority, exceeding the national average of 89%. This suggests that patients are being treated and discharged locally, which is positive for a rural area like Cornwall. However, 12.23% of discharges were delayed, similar to the national average of 12.3%. The average delay was 0.73 days, slightly above the national average of 0.7 days. These delays might be due to challenges in rural healthcare, such as staffing shortages or longer distances between services.
In 2024, 71.7% of people in Cornwall said they were satisfied with their care and support, higher than the national average of 64.7%. This shows that many residents have positive experiences with their services. However, another survey reported that 57% of people were dissatisfied with social care. This indicates that while many are satisfied, there are still significant concerns among residents. Only 64.2% felt it was easy to find information about services, below the national average of 68.2%. Difficulty in accessing information may contribute to dissatisfaction and unmet needs.
In 2024, Cornwall had 7.61 ombudsman complaints received per 100,000 people, higher than the national average of 4.45. The number of complaints decided was also higher, at 6.4 per 100,000 people compared to 4.12 nationally. This suggests that more people in Cornwall are raising formal complaints about services. The higher complaint rates may reflect issues with service delivery or higher awareness among residents of how to voice concerns.
Cornwall performs well in keeping patient care local, which is important in a rural area. The higher satisfaction rates are encouraging, but challenges remain. Delays in discharges, difficulties in finding information, and higher complaint rates point to areas needing improvement. The rural nature and higher deprivation levels in Cornwall may contribute to these issues. Focusing on better information access, addressing service delays, and responding effectively to complaints can help improve services. This will support better outcomes and higher satisfaction among 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.
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In 2024, Cornwall spends more on social care per person than the national average. The gross total expenditure per 100,000 people in Cornwall is £56,808.83. This is higher than the England average of £47,758.16. Gross total expenditure is the total amount spent before any income is considered. This shows that Cornwall invests a lot in social care services.
The net total expenditure per 100,000 people in Cornwall is £51,275.48. The national average is £40,471.81. Net expenditure is the amount after taking away income from client contributions and NHS contributions. Cornwall's higher net spending means it uses more of its own money to support social care.
Client contributions in Cornwall are lower than the national average. Per 100,000 people, clients in Cornwall contribute £5,533.35. In England, the average is £7,286.35. This could be because people in Cornwall have lower incomes. The mean deprivation decile in Cornwall is 4.54, while the England average is 5.9. A lower decile means more deprivation. This suggests that many people in Cornwall may not be able to afford to pay more towards their care.
NHS contributions per 100,000 people in Cornwall are £7,641.67. The national average is £7,878.45. Cornwall gets slightly less money from the NHS for social care compared to other areas.
Cornwall's population is growing. In 2019, there were 563,695 people. By 2023, this increased to 578,324. More people may mean more need for social care services. Cornwall is also very rural. In 2011, 92% of Cornwall was rural, compared to 34.6% for England on average. The population density is low, with 160.9 people per square kilometre. The England average is much higher at 2,468.5 people per square kilometre. Delivering services in rural and less populated areas can cost more because of distances and fewer facilities.
The higher spending in Cornwall may be due to these factors. More deprivation and rural areas can increase the need for social care and make it more expensive to provide. Lower client contributions mean that the local authority has to pay more to cover costs.
In conclusion, Cornwall spends more on social care than the national average. This is likely because of its growing population, higher levels of deprivation, and rural nature. These factors increase the demand for services and the cost to provide them. Cornwall relies more on its own funds, as it receives less from client and NHS contributions. Understanding these challenges is important for planning and providing effective social care in Cornwall.
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