This page provides an overview of social care in Dudley, 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 Dudley. 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 2024, Dudley has an age-standardised disability proportion of 19.2%, which is higher than the England average of 17.6%. This suggests that a larger share of Dudley's population is living with disabilities compared to the national figure. Dudley's slightly higher level of deprivation, indicated by a mean deprivation decile of 5.08 (where 1 is most deprived and 10 is least deprived), might contribute to this higher disability rate. The area also has a higher standard deviation in deprivation decile (2.97 compared to the national average of 2.3), implying significant variation in deprivation levels across the borough.
The number of working-age individuals requesting care in Dudley is 6,070 in 2024, equating to 1,858 per 100,000 people. This is notably higher than the national average of 1,143.48 per 100,000. Additionally, 1,850 people aged 18 to 64 are receiving care, which is 566 per 100,000, compared to the England average of 532.68 per 100,000. These figures reflect a greater demand for care services among Dudley's working-age population, possibly due to the higher prevalence of disabilities and the area's socio-economic challenges.
Examining the types of care received, Dudley has more people receiving nursing care, with 22.96 per 100,000 compared to the national average of 13.75. For community care through direct payments only, Dudley's rate is 185.20 per 100,000, surpassing the national figure of 122.17. This indicates a preference among residents for direct payments, enabling them to arrange their own care services. However, for community care managed by the council's personal budgets, Dudley's rate is slightly lower at 235.70 per 100,000 versus the national average of 266.67. In contrast, community care commissioned support only is significantly lower in Dudley at 12.24 per 100,000 compared to 58.3 nationally, suggesting less reliance on services directly commissioned by the council.
In 2025, requests for help with assessments and care plans in Dudley are slightly below the national average. For instance, requests for assessments are 1.22 per 100,000, compared to 1.72 nationally. Similar patterns are seen with care plans and safeguarding. This could imply that existing services are adequately meeting needs, or there might be barriers preventing individuals from seeking assistance. The lower figures in areas like legal issues and complaints (0.31 per 100,000 versus 0.68 nationally) might reflect fewer concerns, but could also indicate underreporting or lack of awareness.
Dudley's population has grown modestly from 322,090 in 2019 to 326,680 in 2023. The area is entirely urban, with a high population density of 3,302.4 residents per square kilometre, exceeding the England average of 2,468.5. The urban setting and higher deprivation levels may contribute to the increased disability rates and demand for care services. The absence of rural areas (0% rural compared to 34.6% nationally) might influence the types of services required and the accessibility of support for residents.
The data indicates a need for focused resource allocation in Dudley to support its disabled population, particularly among working-age adults. Services might need to emphasise flexible care options, such as direct payments, which are more prevalent in Dudley. Policymakers should consider strategies to address underlying factors contributing to higher disability rates, like enhancing access to healthcare, education, and employment opportunities. Efforts to reduce deprivation and its impacts could help lower the demand on care services over time.
✨ ✅ ❌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 Dudley has remained steady from 2019 to 2023. Around 20.4% of Dudley's population is aged 65 and over. This is higher than the national average, which is about 18.6% during the same period. This means Dudley has more older residents compared to other areas in England.
In 2024, there were 14,375 requests for care from people aged 65 and over in Dudley. This is 4,400 requests per 100,000 people. The national average is lower, with 2,438 requests per 100,000 people. This shows that more older people in Dudley are asking for care services.
The number of older people receiving care in Dudley is also higher than the national average. In 2024, 4,200 older people received care. This is about 1,286 people per 100,000 in Dudley, while the national average is 1,003 per 100,000. This suggests that more older people in Dudley are getting care services than in other parts of England.
Different types of care are provided to older people in Dudley. Nursing care is given to 545 people, which is 167 per 100,000 people. This is higher than the national average of 122 per 100,000. Residential care is provided to 885 people, or 271 per 100,000, also higher than the national average of 250 per 100,000. This means Dudley has more older people in nursing and residential homes.
Community care is another important service. In Dudley, 2,410 older people receive a council-managed personal budget for community care. This is 738 people per 100,000, compared to the national average of 508 per 100,000. Fewer people in Dudley use direct payments for community care than the national average. This could mean that older people in Dudley prefer the council to manage their care budgets.
Dudley is a densely populated urban area, with 3,302 residents per square kilometre. This is higher than the England average of 2,469 residents per square kilometre. The area has no rural parts, unlike the national average where 34.6% live in rural areas. The higher population density might lead to more demand for care services.
Deprivation levels in Dudley are slightly higher than the national average. The mean deprivation decile is 5.08 in Dudley, compared to 5.9 in England. There is also more variation in deprivation across Dudley. Higher deprivation can lead to greater health needs, which might explain the higher demand for care services among older people.
Fewer people in Dudley requested help with assessments and care plans in 2025 compared to the national average. This might suggest that the care services are reaching people effectively without them needing to request help. However, more people sought information and advice, indicating a need for accessible information about care services.
The higher number of older people and greater demand for care services in Dudley has implications for service delivery. Resources may need to be increased to meet the needs of the growing older population. Policies focusing on effective care management and support for older people are important for Dudley.
✨ ✅ ❌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 Dudley, carers play a vital role in supporting family members and friends who need assistance. Understanding their experiences helps us improve services and policies to better meet their needs.
In 2021, Dudley had 9,739 unpaid carers per 100,000 people. This is higher than the England average of 8,204 per 100,000. Given Dudley's population of approximately 323,591 in 2021, this suggests a significant number of residents are providing unpaid care. The higher rate may reflect Dudley's social and economic conditions, where more people take on caring roles for relatives and friends.
In 2024, 35% of carers in Dudley reported that they had as much social contact as they would like. This is better than the England average of 29.3%. This suggests that carers in Dudley may have better access to social networks or community support that helps them stay connected. However, with only a little over a third reporting adequate social contact, there is still room for improvement to reduce isolation among carers.
Also in 2024, 67% of Dudley carers felt it was easy to find information about services. This is higher than the national average of 59.3%. This indicates that Dudley's information and advice services are relatively effective in reaching carers. Ensuring carers have access to information is crucial for them to get the support they need.
The types of support carers receive vary. In 2024, Dudley provided direct payments to 124 carers per 100,000 people, slightly below the national rate of 150 per 100,000. The use of direct payments allows carers to choose and control the support they receive. The rate for carers receiving council-managed personal budgets was not available, but for commissioned support only, Dudley's rate was 18.4 per 100,000, compared to the England average of 101.8 per 100,000. This suggests that fewer carers in Dudley receive this type of managed support.
Notably, 1,087 per 100,000 carers in Dudley received information, advice, and signposting services, which is significantly higher than the national rate of 338.7 per 100,000. This aligns with the higher percentage of carers finding it easy to access information. However, 55.1 per 100,000 carers in Dudley received no direct support, lower than the national average of 129.6 per 100,000, indicating that fewer carers in Dudley are missing out on direct support services.
Dudley's higher-density population and lower mean deprivation decile suggest a more urban and potentially higher-need area. The greater number of unpaid carers may reflect higher levels of need due to socio-economic factors. The data indicates that Dudley is effective in providing information and advice to carers but may need to enhance certain support services like direct payments and managed personal budgets.
Improving access to a wider range of support services could further aid carers in Dudley. Ensuring that carers are not isolated is important, and while Dudley performs better than average, continued efforts to increase social contact opportunities for carers are vital. Policymakers should consider these factors when allocating resources and planning services to support carers effectively.
✨ ✅ ❌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
Dudley is a densely populated urban area with a population of 326,680 in 2023. This is slightly below the national average, but its population density is higher than the England mean, with 3,302.4 residents per square kilometre compared to 2,468.5. Understanding the state of care providers in Dudley is important for meeting the needs of its people.
In 2024, Dudley has 40 community-based adult social care services, which is fewer than the national average of 63.8. On the other hand, it has 84 residential social care providers, close to the national mean of 91. Considering Dudley's population size, the number of residential care providers seems suitable. However, the lower number of community-based services might mean less support for people who wish to receive care at home.
The percentage of care providers in Dudley needing improvement or rated inadequate is 29%, much higher than the national average of 16.8%. This means that nearly a third of care providers in Dudley are not meeting the required standards. This could affect the quality of care for residents and put more pressure on the providers that are performing well.
Staff turnover in Dudley is 26.7%, similar to the national rate. This shows that keeping staff is a common problem both locally and nationally. Moreover, 70.3% of providers in Dudley find it more challenging to retain staff, slightly higher than the national figure of 68.1%. While the vacancy rate in Dudley is 6.7%, lower than the national average of 8.4%, providers still struggle with recruitment. About 81.4% report that recruiting staff is more challenging, compared to 79.8% nationally. These staffing issues can impact the quality of care and the ability to meet demand.
Dudley's high population density and entirely urban setting may contribute to the challenges faced by care providers. Unlike the national average, where 34.6% live in rural areas, Dudley has no rural population. Urban areas often have higher demand for services and more competition for staff from other sectors. Dudley's mean deprivation decile is 5.08, slightly lower than the national mean of 5.9, indicating higher levels of deprivation. This can increase the need for care services and make it harder to attract and keep qualified staff.
The greater variation in deprivation across Dudley, shown by a higher standard deviation in deprivation deciles (2.97 in Dudley vs 2.3 nationally), suggests that some neighbourhoods are much more deprived than others. This could lead to increased demand for social care services in those areas.
The high proportion of care providers needing improvement and the staffing challenges suggest that Dudley may need to focus on supporting care providers to improve quality. Efforts to enhance staff recruitment and retention could help address some of the underlying issues. Offering training opportunities, career progression, and competitive wages may make care roles more attractive.
Increasing the number of community-based care services could help meet the needs of residents who prefer to receive care at home. This could ease the pressure on residential care facilities and support the well-being of the ageing population.
Addressing these challenges is essential to ensure that people in Dudley receive high-quality care. Careful planning and targeted actions could improve care provider performance and enhance the effectiveness of social care services in the area.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
Dudley is a local area with a growing population. From 2019 to 2023, the number of people living in Dudley increased from 322,090 to 326,680. This growth is similar to the national trend. Dudley is also more densely populated than the England average, with 3,302.4 people per square kilometre compared to 2,468.5. The area is entirely urban, as 0% of it is rural, while the England average is 34.6% rural.
In November 2024, 99.95% of discharges from acceptable trusts in Dudley were successful. This is higher than the national average of 89%. This suggests that Dudley's healthcare services are efficient in managing patient discharges. Only 7.87% of discharges were delayed, which is lower than the national average of 12.3%. This means that patients in Dudley are less likely to experience delays when leaving hospital.
The average delay for discharges in Dudley was 0.55 days, compared to the national average of 0.7 days. Shorter delays can help patients return home sooner, which can improve their recovery and free up hospital beds for others.
In 2024, 65.1% of people in Dudley said they were satisfied with their care and support. This is slightly higher than the England average of 64.7%. This indicates that most people in Dudley feel positive about the care they receive. However, another source, NatCen, reported a dissatisfaction rate of 57% with social care. This suggests that more than half of the respondents were not happy with social care services. There might be differences in how these surveys were conducted or in the specific aspects they measured.
Furthermore, 71.4% of people using services in Dudley felt it was easy to find information about services, which is higher than the national average of 68.2%. This means that people in Dudley have better access to information about the services they need.
In 2024, Dudley had 3.06 ombudsman complaints received per 100,000 people. This is lower than the national average of 4.45 per 100,000. Similarly, Dudley had 3.37 complaints decided per 100,000 people, also lower than the national average of 4.12 per 100,000. Fewer complaints may indicate higher satisfaction with services or fewer issues requiring formal resolution.
Dudley's mean deprivation decile in 2019 was 5.08, which is slightly lower than the England average of 5.9. A lower decile indicates higher deprivation. The standard deviation of deprivation in Dudley was 2.97, higher than the national average of 2.3. This suggests that there is more variation in deprivation levels within Dudley. The mean deprivation rank for Dudley was 15,148.85, compared to the England mean of 17,686.4, where a lower rank indicates higher deprivation.
The higher population density and urban setting may influence the delivery of services in Dudley. Urban areas can have more pressure on services due to the higher concentration of people. However, the data shows that Dudley is performing well in terms of healthcare discharges, delays, and access to information.
The positive performance in discharge rates and lower delays suggests that Dudley's healthcare services are efficiently managing patient transitions. Higher satisfaction rates and better access to information indicate that people are generally happy with the care and support available. However, the high dissatisfaction reported by NatCen points to possible areas needing attention in social care services.
The lower number of ombudsman complaints may reflect good service delivery. However, it is important to ensure that people are aware of how to raise concerns if needed.
Considering the higher deprivation and urban environment, Dudley's services appear to be effectively addressing the needs of its population. Continuous monitoring and quality improvement efforts can help maintain and enhance these positive 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.
✨ ✅ ❌?
In 2024, Dudley spends more on social care per person than the national average. The gross total expenditure per 100,000 people is £48,767.60, while the average for England is £47,758.16. This suggests that Dudley invests a bit more in social care services compared to other areas.
After accounting for income, the net total expenditure per 100,000 people in Dudley is £40,578.24. The national average is £40,471.81. This means that Dudley still spends slightly more per person on social care even after receiving contributions.
People in Dudley contribute £8,189.36 per 100,000 people towards their care, higher than the national figure of £7,286.35. This could mean that residents pay more for services or that more people are contributing. The NHS also contributes more in Dudley, with £8,777.70 per 100,000 people compared to £7,878.45 nationally. This extra funding from the NHS might help support local services.
Dudley's population has grown from 322,090 in 2019 to 326,680 in 2023. Although this is smaller than the average population in England, which is 377,060.9 in 2023, Dudley is more densely populated. There are 3,302.4 people per square kilometre in Dudley, while the average for England is 2,468.5. This high density indicates an urban area.
Dudley has a mean deprivation decile of 5.08, which is lower than the national average of 5.9. A lower decile means higher deprivation. This suggests that Dudley has more deprived areas than many other places in England. The standard deviation of the deprivation decile is higher in Dudley, indicating a wider range of deprivation levels across the area.
The higher levels of deprivation and urban density in Dudley may lead to greater demand for social care services. More people might need support due to economic or health challenges associated with deprivation. The higher spending could reflect the council's response to these needs.
Higher client contributions may mean that residents are paying more towards their care, possibly due to greater use of services or higher fees. Increased NHS contributions could indicate closer collaboration between health and social care services in Dudley, providing additional funding to meet local needs.
Data about budget cuts is not available, making it hard to assess future funding challenges. The government's awareness of social care funding needs, without full transparency, could affect how Dudley plans its services. Ensuring adequate resources is important to meet the needs of a growing and densely populated area with higher deprivation.
Dudley invests slightly more per person in social care than the national average. Factors like higher deprivation, urban density, and population growth contribute to increased demand for services. Higher contributions from clients and the NHS support this spending. Understanding these factors is important for effective service delivery and resource allocation in Dudley.
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