This page provides an overview of social care in Derbyshire, 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: Amber Valley, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales, Erewash, High Peak, North East Derbyshire, South Derbyshire
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: Amber Valley, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales, Erewash, High Peak, North East Derbyshire, South Derbyshire
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 Derbyshire. 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 Derbyshire, the proportion of disabled people is 19.31%, which is higher than the national average of 17.6%. This means that a larger percentage of the population has disabilities compared to other areas in England.
In 2024, there were 9,105 requests for care from working-age adults in Derbyshire. This is 1,122 requests per 100,000 people, slightly below the national average of 1,143 per 100,000. This suggests that fewer working-age adults in Derbyshire are asking for care services compared to the national average.
The number of people aged 18 to 64 receiving care in Derbyshire is 3,835, which is 473 per 100,000 people. This is also below the national average of 533 per 100,000. This might mean that fewer people in this age group are getting care services in Derbyshire compared to other regions.
Most people aged 18 to 64 in Derbyshire receive community-based care. Specifically, 1,580 people use a local authority-managed personal budget for community care, and 1,230 people receive direct payments for community care. Fewer people are in residential care (570) or nursing care (145). This shows a preference for receiving care at home or in the community rather than in care homes.
In 2025, the number of people requesting specific types of help was low. For example, only two people asked for help with assessments, and one person sought help with legal issues and complaints. The highest number was 13 people asking for information. These low numbers could mean that people are not aware of these services, or there might be barriers preventing them from accessing help.
Derbyshire's population has been growing, reaching 811,449 in 2023. The area is more rural than the national average, with 43% of residents living in rural areas compared to 34.6% for England. The population density is lower too, with 312 people per square kilometre, while the national average is 2,468.5. Being a rural area with lower population density might make it harder for people to access services due to distance and transport issues.
Derbyshire has a mean deprivation decile slightly above the national average, indicating it is less deprived overall. However, there is variation within the county, and some areas might face more deprivation. Deprivation can affect people's health and their ability to access care services.
The higher proportion of disabled people, combined with fewer requests for care and fewer people receiving care, might suggest that some needs are not being met. Rural living and lower population density could make it challenging to deliver services effectively. People might not be accessing care due to distance, lack of information, or availability of services.
In conclusion, Derbyshire has a higher percentage of disabled residents but lower engagement with care services compared to national figures. Factors like rurality, population growth, and possible unmet needs should be considered when planning services. Improving access to care, raising awareness of available services, and addressing barriers can help ensure that the needs of disabled people in Derbyshire are met.
✨ ✅ ❌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
The proportion of older people in Derbyshire has been rising steadily from 2019 to 2023. In 2019, 21.9% of the population were older adults. This increased each year, reaching 22.5% in 2023. This means that over one in five people in Derbyshire are older adults.
When we compare this to the national average, Derbyshire has a higher proportion of older people. The national average stayed around 18.4% to 18.9% during the same period, with a slight decrease to 18.5% in 2023. This shows that Derbyshire has an older population compared to the rest of the country.
The increasing number of older people in Derbyshire may be due to several factors. The county's rural settings might attract retirees looking for a quieter place to live. Also, younger people might be moving to cities for work, leaving a higher proportion of older residents.
In 2024, there were 21,715 requests for care from people aged 65 and over in Derbyshire. This is 2,676 requests per 100,000 people, which is higher than the national average of 2,438 requests per 100,000 people. This suggests that older people in Derbyshire may have a higher need for care services.
Furthermore, 8,920 older people in Derbyshire were receiving care in 2024. This is 1,099 people per 100,000, again higher than the national average of 1,003 people per 100,000. This means that more older people in Derbyshire are accessing care services compared to other areas.
Looking at the types of care, in 2024, 1,090 older people were in nursing care, and 2,645 were in residential care. There were also 4,115 older people receiving a managed personal budget in the community. These numbers are higher per 100,000 people than the national averages. This indicates a greater demand for both residential and community-based care services in Derbyshire.
The increasing number of older people and higher demand for care services have important implications. Service providers in Derbyshire may need to allocate more resources to meet the needs of the ageing population. This could involve expanding care facilities, hiring more staff, or investing in community support services.
Derbyshire's population density is lower than the national average, with 312 people per square kilometre compared to 2,468.5 nationally. This rural setting can affect how services are delivered. Providing care in rural areas can be more challenging due to distance and accessibility.
Additionally, Derbyshire has a slightly higher mean deprivation decile than the national average, indicating less deprivation overall. However, there is variation within the county. Areas with higher deprivation may have additional needs, and older people in these areas might require more support.
In conclusion, Derbyshire has a growing older population that is higher than the national average. This leads to a greater demand for care services. Service providers and policymakers need to consider these trends to ensure that the needs of older people are met. This could involve planning for more care facilities, improving access in rural areas, and tailoring services to the specific needs of the community.
✨ ✅ ❌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, there were about 9,719 unpaid carers per 100,000 people in Derbyshire. This is higher than the national average of 8,204 unpaid carers per 100,000 people. This means more people in Derbyshire are looking after family or friends without pay compared to other areas. This could be due to the county's growing population and rural nature, where formal care services might be less accessible.
In 2024, 29.8% of carers in Derbyshire said they had as much social contact as they wanted. This is slightly higher than the national average of 29.3%. While this is positive, it still means that over 70% of carers feel they lack enough social interaction. This could affect their well-being and ability to provide care.
Only 56.8% of carers in Derbyshire felt it was easy to find information about services in 2024. This is below the national average of 59.3%. Difficulty in finding information might prevent carers from accessing support they need.
In 2024, Derbyshire provided direct payments to 416 carers per 100,000 people, much higher than the national average of 150 per 100,000 people. Also, 848 carers per 100,000 people received information, advice, or signposting services, compared to 339 per 100,000 nationally. This shows Derbyshire is offering more support to carers than many other areas.
However, 52 carers per 100,000 people received no direct support, which is lower than the national figure of 130 per 100,000. This suggests that most carers in Derbyshire are receiving some form of help, but there may still be unmet needs.
Derbyshire's population has grown from 788,880 in 2019 to 811,449 in 2023. With a density of 312 people per square kilometre, it is less crowded than the England average of 2,468.5 people per square kilometre. About 43% of Derbyshire is rural, higher than the national average. Rural areas often have fewer services nearby, which might lead to more people becoming unpaid carers.
In 2019, Derbyshire had a mean deprivation decile of 6.01, slightly above the England average of 5.9. This means it is less deprived compared to other areas. However, there are variations within the county. Areas with higher deprivation might have more unpaid carers due to limited access to paid care services.
The high number of unpaid carers suggests a strong need for support services in Derbyshire. The fact that many carers find it hard to get information means there is room to improve how services communicate with them. Providing easy access to information could help carers find the support they need.
The county's efforts in providing direct payments and information services are positive. However, the low percentage of carers feeling satisfied with their social contact indicates a need for more community support and opportunities for carers to connect with others.
Derbyshire has a higher rate of unpaid carers than the national average, possibly due to its growing and rural population. While there is some support available, challenges remain in ensuring carers have enough social contact and access to information. Improving these areas could enhance the well-being of carers and the people they look after.
✨ ✅ ❌Care providers are essential for delivering social care services, including home care agencies and care homes. The quality of care they provide can vary significantly, impacting the well-being of service users. This section examines the number and types of care providers, their quality ratings, and some of the difficulties of maintaining high standards. Understanding these metrics is crucial for ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive high-quality care.
The number and types of care providers in a local authority can impact the availability and quality of social care services. Understanding the distribution of care providers directly influences people’s ability to get the care they need.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rates care providers based on their quality of care, safety, and effectiveness. Understanding the quality ratings of care providers can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of care providers with low ratings may indicate a need for improved training and support, while a high number of care providers with high ratings may suggest that existing services are effective.
Framework rates are the agreed prices that local authorities pay care providers for social care services, such as home care and residential care. These rates are crucial because they determine the affordability, availability, and quality of care in a city. If rates are too low, providers may struggle to sustain services, leading to workforce shortages, poor care quality, and limited access for those relying on council-funded care.
Understanding framework rates helps assess whether local authorities are adequately funding social care, ensuring fair pay for care workers, and maintaining a sustainable care market that meets residents’ needs.
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Several providers are finding it increasingly difficult to stay in business, and sometimes several providers collapse at once. For example, when pay rises are approved without consultation and effective immediately, providers may not be able to afford to pay their staff. This can cause a chain-effect which leads to collapse in the market, and a lack of care for those who need it.
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Workforce turnover rate is a measure of the number of staff leaving a care provider over a specific period. High turnover rates can indicate issues with staff retention, such as low pay, poor working conditions, or lack of training and support. Understanding workforce turnover rates can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed to improve staff retention and ensure high-quality care services.
NOTE: This data series is based on regional data
Staff retention is crucial for maintaining high-quality care services. Understanding the challenges faced by care providers in retaining staff can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of care providers struggling to retain staff may indicate a need for improved training and support, while a low number of care providers facing retention challenges may suggest that existing services are effective.
This dataset describes the results of a survey asking care providers about their challenges in retaining staff.
NOTE: This data series is based on regional data
Workforce_survey_data_tables, Tab 6_2
Vacancy rate is a measure of the number of unfilled positions within a care provider over a specific period. High vacancy rates can indicate issues with staff recruitment, such as low pay, poor working conditions, or lack of training and support. Understanding vacancy rates can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed to improve staff recruitment and ensure high-quality care services.
Recruiting staff is essential for maintaining high-quality care services, and for backfilling staff when they leave. Understanding the challenges faced by care providers in recruiting staff can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of care providers struggling to recruit staff may indicate a need for improved training and support, or can point to a systemic problem, such as low pay, poor working conditions, or not enough people interested in this job type.
Staff recruitment is important as it’s one of the areas that have levers to pull outside of social care, for example, by changing how many visas are awarded to social care workers.
NOTE: This data series is based on regional data
Workforce_survey_data_tables, Tab 6_2
In 2024, Derbyshire has 110 community-based adult social care services and 232 residential social care providers. These numbers are higher than the national averages of 63.8 and 91 providers, respectively. Derbyshire's larger population, which was 811,449 in 2023 compared to the England average of 377,060.9, partly explains this. However, when considering the number of providers per 100,000 people, Derbyshire has about 13.6 community-based services per 100,000 people, which is lower than the national average of 16.9. For residential care, Derbyshire has 28.6 providers per 100,000 people, slightly above the national average of 24.1. This suggests that while the total number of providers is high, access to community-based services may be less than in other areas.
The proportion of care providers in Derbyshire needing improvement or rated inadequate is 18.5%, higher than the national average of 16.8%. This indicates that a greater share of providers may not meet quality standards, which could affect the level of care residents receive. Addressing this issue may require targeted support and resources to help providers improve their services.
Derbyshire faces challenges in staffing its care services. The turnover rate is 25.5%, similar to the regional average, but the vacancy rate is 9.1%, which is higher than the national average of 8.4%. A significant number of providers, 81.4%, report that recruiting staff is more challenging or much more challenging, compared to the national figure of 79.8%. Additionally, 70.3% find retaining staff more challenging, above the national average of 68.1%. These staffing issues may contribute to the higher proportion of providers needing improvement.
Several factors might influence these challenges. Derbyshire is more rural than the national average, with 43.3% of its area being rural compared to 34.6% for England. The population density is also much lower, at 312 people per square kilometre versus the national average of 2,468.5. Rural areas can face difficulties in attracting and retaining staff due to factors like travel distances and fewer local amenities. The mean deprivation decile for Derbyshire is 6.0, slightly above the national average of 5.9, indicating moderate levels of deprivation, which can impact both the demand for services and the availability of local workers.
The data suggests that Derbyshire may need to focus on improving the quality of care providers and addressing staffing challenges. Strategies could include investing in training and support for providers to raise care standards and implementing initiatives to attract and retain staff, such as offering competitive salaries, providing opportunities for career advancement, and improving working conditions. Enhancing community-based services could also help meet the needs of residents more effectively, especially in rural areas where accessibility might be an issue. Policymakers might consider these factors when allocating resources to ensure that the care needs of Derbyshire's population are adequately met.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
Derbyshire's social care services are showing promising results in the latest assessments. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) Local Authority assessment for 2024/25 gives Derbyshire a score of 67, which is higher than the national average of 64.7. This "Good" status indicates that the county is performing well in providing quality care to its residents.
Hospital discharge processes are crucial for patient flow and service efficiency. Derbyshire has a high rate of discharges from acceptable trusts at 99.1%, exceeding the national average of 89%. However, 13.6% of discharges in Derbyshire are delayed, slightly above the national average of 12.3%. Despite this, the average delay is shorter, at 0.59 days compared to the national 0.7 days. This suggests that while delays are more frequent, they are resolved more promptly in Derbyshire, possibly reflecting effective coordination among care providers.
Resident satisfaction with care services is a key indicator of service quality. In Derbyshire, 65.6% of respondents are satisfied with their care and support, slightly higher than the national average of 64.7%. This positive feedback reflects well on the service provision in the county. Nevertheless, only 63.9% of people find it easy to obtain information about services, which is below the national average of 68.2%. Improving access to information could enhance overall satisfaction and service uptake.
Complaints to the ombudsman can highlight areas where services may be falling short. In Derbyshire, the number of complaints received per 100,000 people is 3.57, lower than the national average of 4.45. Similarly, complaints decided per 100,000 people are 3.33, compared to 4.12 nationally. This lower rate of complaints may indicate effective local resolution of issues or higher satisfaction with services.
Derbyshire's population has been steadily increasing, from 788,880 in 2019 to 811,449 in 2023. The county has a low population density of 312 people per square kilometre, compared to the England average of 2,468.5. With 43.3% of the area being rural, higher than the national average of 34.6%, service delivery can be challenging due to the dispersed population. Rural areas may have less access to services and information, which could explain the lower percentage of people finding it easy to obtain service information.
The mean deprivation decile in Derbyshire is 6.01, slightly above the England average of 5.9, indicating that the county is less deprived on average. However, a higher standard deviation in deprivation deciles suggests that there are pockets of higher deprivation within the county. Addressing inequalities is important to ensure that all residents receive adequate care and support.
Linking these indicators, the high satisfaction rates and lower ombudsman complaints suggest that services are generally effective. However, the challenges in accessing information and the slight increase in delayed discharges point to areas for improvement. Enhancing communication strategies, particularly in rural areas, and focusing on discharge planning could further improve service quality.
Considering the growing population and the rural nature of Derbyshire, it's important for policymakers and service providers to plan for increased demand. Investing in infrastructure, improving access to information, and addressing disparities in service provision can help maintain and enhance the quality of care.
✨ ✅ ❌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, Derbyshire's gross total expenditure on social care is £61,972 per 100,000 people. This is higher than the national average of £47,758. The net total expenditure is £54,117 per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of £40,471. This suggests that Derbyshire is investing more in social care services than other areas.
Derbyshire's higher spending could be due to several factors. The county's population has been growing, from 788,880 in 2019 to 811,449 in 2023. A larger population may increase the demand for social care services. Additionally, Derbyshire has a high percentage of rural areas, with 43% of the population living in rural settings, compared to the England average of 34.6%. Rural areas can be more costly to serve because of longer distances and fewer resources.
Client contributions in Derbyshire are £7,855 per 100,000 people, slightly above the national average of £7,286. This means that people in Derbyshire are contributing more towards their care. NHS contributions are also higher in Derbyshire, at £9,495 per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of £7,878. This could indicate strong cooperation between social care services and the NHS in the county.
The mean deprivation decile in Derbyshire is 6.01, which is just above the England average of 5.9. This means that Derbyshire is less deprived than many other areas. However, the standard deviation of 2.55 suggests that there is a wide range of deprivation levels within the county. Some areas may have higher needs for social care due to higher deprivation.
Derbyshire has a population density of 312 people per square kilometre, much lower than the England average of 2,468.5. Lower population density can make it more difficult and expensive to provide services because of greater distances and fewer economies of scale. This might explain why spending per capita is higher in Derbyshire.
Data about budget cuts is not available. However, the higher spending indicates that Derbyshire is making social care a priority. The statement that "the government appears to know how much money is required for social care, and yet they are not making that known" suggests concerns about transparency in funding decisions.
The higher investment in social care may help Derbyshire meet the needs of its growing and spread-out population. It could improve service delivery and ensure that vulnerable people receive the support they need. Policymakers might need to focus on maintaining this level of funding and making sure it is used effectively, especially in areas with higher deprivation.
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