This page provides an overview of social care in Darlington, 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: Darlington
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: Darlington
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 Darlington. 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 Darlington, the age-standardised proportion of people with disabilities is 19.3%. This is higher than the national average of 17.6%. A higher proportion indicates that more residents in Darlington are living with disabilities compared to other parts of the country. This may be influenced by factors such as the local population's age structure or socioeconomic conditions.
In 2024, there were 1,915 requests for care from people of working age in Darlington. This equates to 1,732 requests per 100,000 people, which is significantly higher than the national average of 1,143 requests per 100,000 people. The elevated number of requests suggests that a considerable portion of the working-age population requires support. This could be due to higher disability rates or other health and social care needs within this age group.
A total of 535 individuals aged 18 to 64 receive care services in Darlington, amounting to 484 per 100,000 people. This figure is slightly lower than the national average of 533 per 100,000 people. Despite having a higher number of care requests, fewer people are receiving care compared to the average. This may point to unmet needs or potential barriers preventing access to care services.
The types of care services utilised vary among residents. Community care with direct payment only supports 155 people, which is 140 per 100,000 people—higher than the national average of 122 per 100,000 people. Similarly, community care with part direct payment assists 70 individuals, or 63 per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of 48 per 100,000 people. These higher figures indicate a greater reliance on community-based care options in Darlington. However, services like nursing care are used by 15 people (14 per 100,000), aligning closely with the national average of 14 per 100,000.
Understanding the local context helps explain these figures. Darlington's population has grown from 106,532 in 2019 to 110,562 in 2023. The town has a population density of 546 residents per square kilometre, which is higher than the national average. Additionally, Darlington has a mean deprivation decile of 4.82, below the England average of 5.9, indicating higher levels of deprivation. Greater deprivation can be associated with poorer health outcomes and higher disability rates, potentially increasing the demand for care services.
The higher disability prevalence and increased requests for care among the working-age population suggest that demand for support services is substantial in Darlington. However, with fewer people receiving care compared to the national average, there may be gaps in service provision. Factors such as higher deprivation and population growth could strain existing resources. Addressing these challenges may require additional funding, staff, and outreach programs to ensure that residents receive the necessary care.
Darlington exhibits a higher rate of disability and a greater demand for care services among its working-age population. While community-based care services are utilised more than the national average, overall care provision is slightly lower. This highlights the need for focused efforts to bridge the gap between demand and supply of care services, ensuring that all residents have access to the support 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
This report examines the situation of older people in Darlington. It looks at how the proportion of older residents has changed over time, their needs for care, and the types of care they receive. Understanding these aspects helps to see how Darlington compares to the rest of the country and what it means for local services.
From 2019 to 2023, the proportion of older people in Darlington has steadily increased. In 2019, about 20.35% of the population were older residents. This number grew each year, reaching nearly 21.00% in 2023. Nationally, the average proportion of older people has been lower, staying between 18.4% and 18.9%. This shows that Darlington has a higher share of older people compared to the national average. The increase might be due to more people living longer or younger people moving away.
In 2024, there were 3,925 requests for care from people aged 65 and over in Darlington. This is about 3,550 requests per 100,000 people. The national average is lower, with around 2,438 requests per 100,000 people. The higher number of requests in Darlington suggests that older residents have a greater need for support. Factors like health issues or limited family support might contribute to this demand.
Also in 2024, 1,125 older people in Darlington were receiving care services. This equals about 1,018 people per 100,000, slightly above the national average of 1,003 people per 100,000. This means that Darlington is providing care to its older residents at a rate similar to the rest of the country. Given the higher number of care requests, it is important to ensure that services are sufficient to meet the needs.
Different types of care are available for older people in Darlington. In 2024, 505 people were in residential care, which is about 457 per 100,000 people. This is higher than the national average of 250 per 100,000. Nursing care was provided to 85 people, or 77 per 100,000, which is lower than the national average of 122 per 100,000. Community-based care was also significant, with 460 people receiving a council-managed personal budget. This suggests that many older residents prefer or need support to stay in their own homes.
Overall, Darlington has a higher proportion of older people and a higher number of care requests compared to the national averages. The area provides more residential care but less nursing care than the average. Community care services are also important in Darlington, offering options for those who wish to remain independent. These differences might be influenced by local factors such as health needs or the availability of certain services.
The increasing number of older people in Darlington means that demand for care services is likely to continue growing. Local authorities should consider this trend when planning resources. Providing a range of care options, including residential, nursing, and community care, can help meet the diverse needs of older residents. Policies that support ageing in place, improve health outcomes, and address social needs may be beneficial. Considering that Darlington has lower population density and higher deprivation levels than the national average, targeted support may be needed to ensure that older people receive adequate care.
✨ ✅ ❌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, Darlington had 9,057 unpaid carers per 100,000 people, higher than the national average of 8,204 per 100,000. This means more people in Darlington are taking care of family or friends without pay. The higher number could be due to fewer paid care services or a stronger community culture of family support.
Only 26.1% of carers in Darlington reported in 2024 that they had as much social contact as they would like, compared to 29.3% nationally. This suggests that carers in Darlington may feel more isolated. Caring duties can limit time for social activities, which may affect carers' well-being.
Despite feelings of isolation, 64.1% of carers in Darlington felt it was easy to find information about services, higher than the national average of 59.3%. This indicates that local services are effective in providing information. Good access to information can help carers find support and resources they need.
Darlington provides less direct support to carers compared to national figures. For direct payments, Darlington has 68 per 100,000 people, while the national rate is 150 per 100,000. For managed personal budgets, the rate is 9 per 100,000 in Darlington versus 66 per 100,000 nationally. Fewer carers receiving financial support might mean budget constraints or limited awareness of these options.
However, for respite services delivered to the cared-for person, Darlington's rate is slightly higher at 72 per 100,000 compared to the national rate of 70 per 100,000. This suggests that carers in Darlington may rely more on services that provide temporary relief from their duties.
Darlington's population has grown from 106,532 in 2019 to 110,562 in 2023. The area is less densely populated, with 546 people per square kilometre, compared to the national average of 2,469. This lower density might impact the availability and accessibility of services.
Darlington has a mean deprivation decile of 4.82, lower than the national average of 5.9. A lower decile indicates higher deprivation. Higher deprivation can increase the need for unpaid care, as people may not afford paid services.
The standard deviation of deprivation deciles in Darlington is 3.08, higher than the national average of 2.3. This means there is more variation in deprivation levels within Darlington, with some areas more deprived than others. This inequality might affect how services are distributed and accessed.
Only 12% of Darlington is rural, compared to 34.6% nationally. Being more urban could influence the types of services available and the social networks that support carers.
The higher number of unpaid carers and their feelings of isolation suggest a need for better support in Darlington. Enhancing social opportunities for carers could improve their well-being. Although access to information is good, increasing awareness and availability of direct support options like financial aid might help carers manage their responsibilities.
The higher deprivation levels point to economic challenges that may limit access to paid care services. Addressing these issues could involve allocating more resources to support carers, especially in the most deprived areas. Ensuring services reach all parts of Darlington is important due to the inequality within the area.
Overall, the data suggests that while carers in Darlington can find information about services, they may benefit from more direct support and opportunities for social contact. This could improve their quality of life and the care they provide.
✨ ✅ ❌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
Darlington, with a population of 110,562 in 2023, has experienced steady growth over recent years. The town has a population density of 545.9 residents per square kilometre, which is lower than the national average of 2,468.5. This lower density suggests a more spread-out community, which can influence how social care services are accessed and delivered.
In 2024, Darlington had 17 community-based adult social care services and 31 residential social care providers. The national averages are 63.8 and 91 respectively. When considering the number of providers per 100,000 people, Darlington has approximately 15.4 community-based providers and 28.0 residential care providers per 100,000 residents. The national averages are about 16.9 and 24.1 respectively. This indicates that Darlington has slightly fewer community-based services but more residential care providers per capita compared to the national figures.
The higher number of residential care providers per capita may suggest a greater reliance on residential services in Darlington. This could be due to an ageing population requiring more intensive support or a local preference for residential care options. On the other hand, the slightly lower availability of community-based services might impact individuals who prefer to receive care in their own homes, potentially leading to unmet needs in this area.
Only 8.3% of care providers in Darlington were rated as needing improvement or inadequate, which is significantly lower than the national average of 16.8%. This suggests that the majority of care services in the area meet or exceed quality standards. A higher standard of care can lead to better outcomes for service users and may reflect effective management and oversight within local care services.
The turnover rate for care staff in Darlington is 24.3%, aligning closely with the national average. The vacancy rate is 5.3%, which is notably lower than the national figure of 8.4%. A lower vacancy rate indicates that more positions are filled, which can contribute to consistent care for individuals relying on these services.
Despite these positive indicators, a significant proportion of providers in Darlington report challenges in staffing. About 82.5% find recruiting staff more challenging or much more challenging, compared to the national average of 79.8%. Additionally, 70.5% experience difficulties in retaining staff, slightly higher than the national figure of 68.1%. These challenges may stem from factors such as competition for qualified staff, wage levels, or limited availability of training and development opportunities.
Darlington has a mean deprivation decile of 4.82, compared to the national average of 5.9. This indicates that the area is more deprived than the average in England. Higher deprivation levels are often associated with greater health and social care needs, which can increase demand for services.
The standard deviation of deprivation deciles in Darlington is 3.08, higher than the national average of 2.3. This suggests significant variation in deprivation levels across the area, with some neighbourhoods experiencing more severe deprivation than others. Addressing these disparities is important to ensure equitable access to care services.
Only 12.1% of Darlington is classified as rural, compared to the national average of 34.6%. With a predominantly urban setting, the area may face different challenges compared to rural regions, such as higher demand for services and different patterns of service use.
The data indicates that while Darlington has a solid number of residential care providers, there may be a need to enhance community-based services to meet the preferences of those wishing to receive care at home. The high quality of existing services is a strength that can be built upon.
Workforce challenges in recruitment and retention need to be addressed to maintain service quality. Strategies could include improving working conditions, offering competitive salaries, and providing training opportunities to attract and keep staff.
Given the higher levels of deprivation, there may be increased demand for care services. Policymakers and service providers should consider allocating resources to support both residential and community-based care, ensuring that all residents have access to the support they need.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
Darlington is a local authority area with a population of 110,562 in 2023, growing from 106,532 in 2019. The area has 545.9 residents per square kilometre, which is less than the England average of 2,468.5. Darlington faces higher levels of deprivation, with a mean deprivation decile of 4.82 compared to England's 5.9. This means that Darlington is more deprived than many other areas, which can affect health and social care needs.
In November 2024, 99.64% of discharges in Darlington were from acceptable trusts, higher than the national average of 89%. This shows that patients are mostly receiving care from trusted providers, indicating strong performance in this area.
Darlington had 10.1% of discharges delayed, slightly lower than the national average of 12.3%. While better than average, delayed discharges can still impact patient flow and resource use. The average delay was 0.48 days, shorter than the national average of 0.7 days. This suggests that when delays happen, they are resolved more quickly in Darlington.
In 2024, 63% of respondents in Darlington said they were satisfied with their care and support, just below the national average of 64.7%. While most people are satisfied, there is room to improve and meet or exceed national satisfaction levels. Another source, NatCen, reported a dissatisfaction level of 57% in Darlington. Without a national figure for comparison, it's hard to fully understand this number, but it highlights the need to consider different sources when assessing satisfaction.
About 66.8% of people using services in Darlington felt it was easy to find information about services, slightly below the national average of 68.2%. This means some residents may have trouble accessing the information they need, which could affect their satisfaction with services.
Complaints to the ombudsman in Darlington are higher than the national average when adjusted for population. There were 13.57 complaints received per 100,000 people, compared to 4.45 nationally. Similarly, 12.66 complaints were decided per 100,000 people, versus 4.12 nationally. This higher rate of complaints might indicate issues with service delivery or public dissatisfaction and suggests a need for further investigation.
Darlington's higher levels of deprivation may contribute to some of these challenges. Deprivation can increase the demand on health and social care services, affecting quality and access. The slightly lower satisfaction levels and higher complaints suggest that residents may have unmet needs or face barriers to services. Improving access to information and reducing delays could help increase satisfaction. Efforts to support deprived communities might also reduce pressure on services and improve outcomes.
✨ ✅ ❌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, Darlington spent £50,585 per 100,000 people on social care. This amount is higher than the national average of £47,758 per 100,000 people. This suggests that Darlington is investing more in social care services for each person compared to other areas.
The net total expenditure in Darlington was £40,358 per 100,000 people. This figure is close to the national average of £40,471 per 100,000 people. Net expenditure is the total spending minus the money received from clients and other sources.
Clients in Darlington contributed £10,226 per 100,000 people towards their care. This is more than the national average of £7,286 per 100,000 people. This means that people in Darlington are paying more towards their own care. This could be because of higher fees or because people can afford to pay more.
The NHS contributed £5,104 per 100,000 people to social care in Darlington. This is less than the national average of £7,878 per 100,000 people. This shows that Darlington is receiving less funding from the NHS for social care compared to other areas. This might affect the services available to people who need care.
Darlington’s population has been growing. In 2019, there were 106,532 people. By 2023, this number increased to 110,562 people. The average population of local areas in England is about 377,061 people. This means Darlington is smaller than many other areas.
The population density in Darlington is 546 people per square kilometre. This is lower than the England average of 2,469 people per square kilometre. So, Darlington is less crowded than other places.
Darlington has a deprivation decile of 4.82, while the national average is 5.9. A lower number means more deprivation. This indicates that Darlington is more deprived than other areas. There is also more variation in deprivation within Darlington compared to the national average.
Only 12% of Darlington is rural, compared to 35% in England. This means most people in Darlington live in urban areas.
Darlington is spending more on social care per person. However, it relies more on money from clients and gets less support from the NHS. The higher client contributions might make it hard for some people to afford the care they need.
The lower NHS funding may limit the services that can be offered. Since Darlington is more deprived, there may be more people who need support but cannot pay for it. This could lead to unmet needs in the community.
The growing population means more people may need social care in the future. Planning for this increase is important to make sure everyone can get help when they need it.
Darlington is investing in social care, but the way it is funded may be challenging for some residents. Higher client contributions and less NHS support could affect access to services. Considering the higher levels of deprivation, it is important to ensure that social care is available to all who need it. Planning and resource allocation should take these factors into account to support the community effectively.
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