This page provides an overview of social care in Croydon, 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 Croydon. 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 Croydon, 15.8% of people are disabled. This is slightly less than the average in England, which is 17.6%. This means Croydon has a smaller percentage of disabled people compared to the national average.
Despite having fewer disabled people, Croydon has more working-age people asking for care. In 2024, 8,125 working-age people requested care. This is 2,042.79 per 100,000 people, which is higher than the national average of 1,143.48 per 100,000. This could mean that working-age people in Croydon need more support or services.
In 2024, 2,395 people aged 18 to 64 received care in Croydon. This is 602.15 per 100,000 people, which is higher than the national average of 532.68 per 100,000. This shows that more people in Croydon are getting care compared to the average in England.
More people in Croydon are in nursing and residential care than the national average. Nursing care is given to 70 people (17.60 per 100,000), higher than the average of 13.75 per 100,000. Residential care is provided to 420 people (105.60 per 100,000), also higher than the average of 60.61 per 100,000.
Fewer people in Croydon use community care with direct payments only. Croydon has 85.48 per 100,000 people using this service, while the national average is 122.17 per 100,000. However, more people in Croydon use community care managed by the council. This service has 353.25 per 100,000 people in Croydon, compared to the average of 266.67 per 100,000. This suggests that residents prefer council-managed care services.
In 2025, more people in Croydon are asking for help in different areas compared to the national average. For example, 29 people asked for help with assessments (7.29 per 100,000), while the average is 1.72 per 100,000. Similar trends are seen in requests for care plans, carers, charging, and safeguarding. This shows a higher demand for support services in Croydon.
Croydon's population has grown from 390,643 in 2019 to 397,741 in 2023. The area is very crowded, with 4,516 people per square kilometre in 2021. This is much higher than the national average of 2,468.5 people per square kilometre. Croydon is entirely urban with 0% rural areas, while the average rural area in England is 34.6%.
The average deprivation decile in Croydon is 5.02, which is slightly lower than the national average of 5.9. This means Croydon is a bit more deprived. There is also more variation in deprivation levels within Croydon, indicating greater inequality.
More working-age people in Croydon are asking for and receiving care. The higher demand for services, along with a growing and dense population, suggests that Croydon needs more resources for care and support. The council may need to plan for increased funding and better service delivery to meet the needs of its residents.
✨ ✅ ❌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
In Croydon, the proportion of older people has been gradually increasing from 13.36% in 2019 to 13.91% in 2023. This remains lower than the national average, which was 18.4% in 2019 and slightly decreased to 18.5% in 2023. This means that Croydon has a smaller percentage of older residents compared to the rest of the country.
The total population in Croydon has grown from 390,643 in 2019 to 397,741 in 2023. The population density is high, with 4,516 people per square kilometre, compared to the national average of 2,468.5. Croydon is also entirely urban, with 0% rural population, unlike the national average of 34.6% rural residents.
In 2024, there were 5,350 requests for care from people aged 65 and over in Croydon. This equates to 1,345.10 requests per 100,000 people, which is lower than the national average of 2,437.85 per 100,000. The lower number of requests may be due to the smaller proportion of older people in Croydon. It could also suggest that older residents are less likely to seek assistance, possibly due to unmet needs or barriers to accessing services.
Also in 2024, 3,250 people aged 65 and over were receiving care in Croydon. This amounts to 817.11 individuals per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of 1,002.86 per 100,000. This suggests that fewer older people in Croydon are receiving care services compared to the national average. The reasons might include a healthier older population or possible gaps in service provision.
Among those receiving care, 505 people were in nursing care, which is 126.97 per 100,000 people. This is slightly above the national average of 121.75 per 100,000, indicating a higher use of nursing care in Croydon. In contrast, 560 people were in residential care, amounting to 140.80 per 100,000, which is below the national average of 249.93 per 100,000. For community care with direct payment only, 110 people were receiving this type of care, equal to 27.66 per 100,000, also below the national average of 55.44 per 100,000. Community care with part direct payment had 35 recipients, which is 8.80 per 100,000, compared to the national average of 22.13 per 100,000. Notably, 2,040 people received community care with a council-managed personal budget, which is 512.90 per 100,000, close to the national average of 507.92 per 100,000. This suggests that while certain types of care are less utilised, nursing care and council-managed budgets are more prominent in Croydon.
In 2025, people aged 65 and over in Croydon requested help with several issues at rates higher than the national average. For assessments, 29 people made requests, which is 7.29 per 100,000, compared to the national average of 1.72 per 100,000. Requests for care plans were made by 21 people, equating to 5.28 per 100,000, higher than the national average of 1.39 per 100,000. There were 12 requests for help with carers (3.02 per 100,000), exceeding the national average of 0.75 per 100,000. Help with charging was requested by 29 people (7.29 per 100,000), above the national average of 5.72 per 100,000. Additionally, 16 people sought help with information (4.02 per 100,000), higher than the national average of 2.6 per 100,000. This indicates that older people in Croydon are seeking assistance in these areas more than the average, which may reflect specific needs or difficulties in accessing information and support.
The lower proportion of older people in Croydon may explain why fewer individuals are receiving care services compared to the national average. However, the higher requests for help in certain areas could indicate unmet needs or challenges faced by the older population. The high population density and entirely urban environment might affect how services are accessed and delivered, potentially creating barriers for some residents.
Croydon has a mean deprivation decile of 5.02, slightly below the national average of 5.9, indicating higher deprivation levels. This could impact the health and wellbeing of older residents, possibly increasing the need for support. Service providers may need to address barriers that prevent older people from accessing care and consider targeted interventions to meet their needs.
The data implies that while the overall number of older people is smaller, there are specific areas where support is needed. Understanding these needs can help in planning services, allocating resources, and developing policies to improve the wellbeing of older residents in Croydon. Focusing on information provision, assistance with care planning, and addressing financial concerns could enhance the support offered to the older population.
✨ ✅ ❌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, Croydon had an estimated 28,827 unpaid carers. This equates to 7,379 carers per 100,000 people, which is less than the national average of 8,204 carers per 100,000. This suggests that Croydon has fewer unpaid carers relative to its population size compared to other areas. Possible reasons could include the younger age profile of the borough or different family structures.
Croydon's population has been growing steadily, reaching 397,741 in 2023. The borough is highly urbanised, with no rural areas and a population density of 4,516 residents per square kilometre, almost double the national average of 2,468.5. The higher density may affect the availability and accessibility of services for carers.
When it comes to social contact, 32.6% of carers in Croydon reported in 2024 that they had as much social contact as they would like. This is better than the national average of 29.3%. This could indicate that carers in Croydon have better support networks or more opportunities to engage with others.
However, only 44.1% of carers in Croydon felt it was easy to find information about services, compared to the national average of 59.3%. This suggests that carers in Croydon may face challenges in accessing information, which could impact their ability to get the support they need.
Regarding support services, 77.94 carers per 100,000 received direct payments in 2024, which is lower than the national average of 149.93 per 100,000. Additionally, 294.16 carers per 100,000 received information, advice, or signposting services, slightly below the national average of 338.7 per 100,000. These figures indicate that carers in Croydon may be receiving less direct financial support and guidance than carers elsewhere.
Croydon's mean deprivation decile in 2019 was 5.02, which is lower than the national mean of 5.9. A lower decile indicates higher deprivation. The mean deprivation rank was 14,926.64, again lower than the national mean of 17,686.4. This higher level of deprivation could be affecting the resources available for supporting carers.
The combination of higher population density, urban environment, and higher deprivation may contribute to the difficulties carers face in accessing information and services. The lower levels of direct payments and support services suggest a potential unmet need among carers in Croydon.
To improve support for carers, it may be beneficial to enhance information dissemination, perhaps through community centres or local networks. Increasing awareness of available services could help carers find the assistance they require. Additionally, reviewing the allocation of direct payments and support services might help to address any gaps in provision.
Overall, while Croydon carers report better social contact than the national average, they face challenges in accessing information and support. Addressing these issues could improve the well-being of carers and enhance the effectiveness of services provided.
✨ ✅ ❌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
Croydon is a London borough with a population of 397,741 people in 2023. This is higher than the average population in England, which is 377,060.9 people. Croydon is also more densely populated, with 4,516 residents per square kilometre compared to the national average of 2,468.5. This analysis looks at the care providers in Croydon, focusing on their number, quality, and staffing challenges.
In 2024, Croydon has 121 community-based adult social care providers and 120 residential social care providers. These numbers are higher than the England averages of 63.8 and 91 providers, respectively. The larger and denser population in Croydon means there is a greater need for care services. Having more providers helps meet the demands of the community.
The proportion of care providers in Croydon that are rated as needing improvement or inadequate is 15.2% in 2024. This is slightly lower than the national average of 16.8%. This suggests that care providers in Croydon are generally of good quality. Maintaining high standards is important for the well-being of those who rely on these services.
Staff turnover and vacancies can affect the delivery of care services. In 2023/24, the turnover rate for care staff in Croydon is 19%, which is similar to the London average of 19%. However, the vacancy rate in Croydon is 12.1%, higher than the average of 8.4%. This means there are more unfilled care positions in Croydon, which could put pressure on existing staff.
Despite the higher vacancy rate, fewer care providers in Croydon report challenges in recruiting and retaining staff compared to the London averages. About 68% of providers in Croydon find it more challenging or much more challenging to recruit staff, while the London average is 79.8%. For retaining staff, 56% of providers in Croydon face challenges, compared to 68.1% in London. This may indicate that Croydon is better at managing staffing issues than other areas.
The higher number of care providers in Croydon reflects the needs of a larger and denser population. The lower proportion of providers needing improvement suggests that quality is being maintained. However, the higher vacancy rate could impact service delivery if positions remain unfilled. It is important to address this to ensure that care services can meet the demand.
Since fewer providers report challenges in staffing, Croydon may have effective strategies in place for recruitment and retention. Sharing these strategies could benefit other areas facing similar issues.
Croydon has a strong care provider sector in terms of numbers and quality. The main concern is the higher vacancy rate, which could affect the availability of services. Focusing on filling these vacancies will help maintain the quality and reliability of care. Overall, Croydon appears to be managing its care services well, meeting the needs of its growing and dense population.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
Croydon, with a population of 397,741 in 2023, is one of the more densely populated areas in England, housing 4,516 residents per square kilometre compared to the national average of 2,468.5. The borough experiences moderate levels of deprivation, with a mean deprivation decile of 5.02, slightly below the England average of 5.9. These factors set the context for understanding the quality improvement indicators within Croydon's health and social care services.
In November 2024, Croydon reported that 99.5% of discharges from acceptable trusts were from the local authority, surpassing the national average of 89%. This high percentage suggests that the borough excels in coordinating patient discharges from hospitals, ensuring that individuals receive appropriate care promptly. Efficient discharge processes can reduce hospital stays and ease the transition back into the community.
Additionally, only 8.5% of discharges in Croydon were delayed, which is lower than the national figure of 12.3%. This implies that Croydon faces fewer obstacles in transferring patients to the next stage of care. Factors contributing to this efficiency might include effective communication between hospitals and care providers, as well as adequate availability of support services.
The average delay per patient in Croydon was 0.67 days, marginally less than the national average of 0.7 days. While this difference is slight, it indicates that Croydon is slightly more effective in minimizing delays. Continual efforts to streamline processes could further reduce these delays, benefiting patient experiences.
Despite these positives, only 55.8% of respondents in 2024 expressed satisfaction with their care and support in Croydon, which is below the national average of 64.7%. Furthermore, a separate survey by NatCen indicated a dissatisfaction rate of 57%, highlighting potential concerns among residents regarding the quality or availability of social care services. This discrepancy suggests areas where service delivery may not be meeting the expectations or needs of the community.
When it comes to accessing information, 67% of service users in Croydon felt it was easy to find information about services, slightly less than the national average of 68.2%. Improving information accessibility could empower residents to make better-informed decisions about their care options and increase overall satisfaction.
In terms of complaints, the number received by the ombudsman was 7.54 per 100,000 people in Croydon, higher than the national average of 4.45 per 100,000. Similarly, the number of complaints decided was 6.29 per 100,000, compared to 4.12 per 100,000 nationally. These higher rates may reflect underlying issues in service provision or unmet needs within the community.
The combination of lower satisfaction rates and higher complaint numbers suggests that while Croydon's discharge processes are efficient, there may be shortcomings in other areas of care and support. The high population density and moderate deprivation could be placing additional demands on services, possibly leading to strained resources and impacting service quality.
To address these challenges, focusing on improving the quality of care and expanding resources could be beneficial. Enhancing staffing levels, investing in training, and improving access to information may help increase satisfaction among service users. Additionally, engaging with the community to understand their specific needs can guide effective policy decisions and resource allocation.
In conclusion, while Croydon performs well in facilitating hospital discharges and minimizing delays, there is a clear need to improve overall satisfaction with care and support services. By considering the borough's unique demographic and socio-economic context, targeted actions can be taken to enhance the well-being of its residents and drive quality improvement across all areas of service delivery.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
✨ ✅ ❌?
Croydon is a borough with a population of 397,741 in 2023, which is higher than the England average of 377,061. It is a densely populated area with 4,516 people per square kilometre, compared to the national average of 2,468.5. Croydon has no rural areas and has higher levels of deprivation than the national average.
In 2024, Croydon's gross total expenditure on social care was £45,890 per 100,000 people. This is less than the England average of £47,758. Despite having a larger and denser population, and higher levels of deprivation, Croydon spends less on social care than other areas.
The net total expenditure in Croydon was £39,202 per 100,000 people, while the England average was £40,472. This means that after accounting for income from charges and other sources, Croydon still spends less per person than the national average.
Clients in Croydon contributed £6,688 per 100,000 people towards their social care, which is less than the England average of £7,286. This suggests that people in Croydon may be paying less for their care services compared to others.
The NHS contributed £4,211 per 100,000 people to social care in Croydon. This is significantly lower than the England average of £7,878. This lower contribution from the NHS may affect the funding available for social care services in the borough.
Croydon's lower spending on social care, combined with its higher population density and greater deprivation, may indicate unmet needs among residents. The high urban density could lead to increased demand for social care services. The lower NHS contributions might further strain the resources available for social care.
The absence of information on budget cuts and the noted lack of transparency from the government regarding social care funding may hinder effective planning and allocation of resources. This could impact the availability and quality of social care services in Croydon.
Overall, Croydon's spending on social care is lower than the national average, despite factors that might increase demand for these services. This situation may require attention to ensure that the needs of Croydon's residents are adequately met.
✨ ✅ ❌