This page provides an overview of social care in Enfield, 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 Enfield. 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
The proportion of disabled people in Enfield is 15.4%, which is lower than the national average of 17.6%. This means that a smaller percentage of Enfield's population identifies as disabled compared to the rest of the country. This could be due to factors like the age and health of the population in Enfield.
In 2024, there were 1,410 requests for care from working-age people in Enfield. This is 430.6 requests per 100,000 people, which is much lower than the national average of 1,143.5 requests per 100,000. This suggests that fewer people in Enfield are asking for care services. Possible reasons could include better overall health, lack of awareness of available services, or barriers to accessing care.
Despite fewer requests for care, 2,075 people aged 18 to 64 in Enfield were receiving care in 2024. This is 633.7 people per 100,000, which is higher than the national average of 532.7 per 100,000. This indicates that a higher proportion of working-age people in Enfield are receiving care compared to other areas.
Different types of care are provided in Enfield:
Nursing Care: 30 people received nursing care, which is 9.2 per 100,000 people. This is slightly lower than the national average of 13.8 per 100,000.
Residential Care: 165 people were in residential care, amounting to 50.4 per 100,000 people. This is below the national rate of 60.6 per 100,000.
Community Care with Direct Payment Only: 715 people received this type of care, which is 218.4 per 100,000 people. This is higher than the national average of 122.2 per 100,000.
Community Care with Part Direct Payment: 190 people received part direct payments, totalling 58.0 per 100,000 people, compared to the national rate of 48.0 per 100,000.
Community Care with Council-Managed Personal Budget: 820 people received this service, which is 250.4 per 100,000 people, close to the national average of 266.7 per 100,000.
The higher rates in community care services suggest that Enfield focuses on helping people live independently at home. This may reflect community preferences or local policies supporting home-based care.
In 2025, people in Enfield requested help in various areas:
Assessments: There were 5 requests, which is 1.5 per 100,000 people, close to the national average of 1.7 per 100,000.
Care Plans: There were 3 requests, or 0.9 per 100,000 people, slightly below the national rate of 1.4 per 100,000.
Charging Information: With 23 requests, this amounts to 7.0 per 100,000 people, which is higher than the national average of 5.7 per 100,000. This could indicate that residents are more concerned about the costs of care services.
Direct Payments and Information Seeking: Requests for direct payments (1 request) and information seeking (5 requests) were similar to national averages.
Enfield's population has slightly decreased from 335,151 in 2019 to 327,429 in 2023. The area is densely populated, with 4,082.5 residents per square kilometre, higher than the national average of 2,468.5. Only 0.13% of Enfield is rural, compared to 34.6% nationally, making it a highly urban area.
Enfield has higher levels of deprivation, with a mean deprivation decile of 4.38, whereas the national average is 5.9. Lower decile numbers indicate higher deprivation. This may contribute to the higher number of people receiving care, as deprivation can impact health and increase the need for support services.
The data suggests that while fewer working-age people in Enfield are requesting care, more are receiving it, especially through community-based services. This might mean that care services are proactive in identifying and supporting those in need. It could also indicate that some residents are not requesting help due to barriers such as lack of awareness or access.
The higher requests for charging information point to concerns about the affordability of care. Policymakers may need to address cost issues and ensure that residents know what financial support is available.
Considering the higher deprivation and urban nature of Enfield, focusing resources on community care services seems to align with local needs. Ensuring that services are accessible and affordable can help meet the care needs of the population.
✨ ✅ ❌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 looks at data about older people and the care services they use in Enfield from 2019 to 2025. It compares Enfield's figures with national averages and considers what this means for service delivery.
From 2019 to 2023, the proportion of older people in Enfield increased from 13.22% to 14.32%. This is lower than the national average, which was around 18.5%. This means that Enfield has fewer older people compared to other areas. The increase over time shows that the older population is growing, but it is still less than in other parts of the country.
In 2024, 4,245 people aged 65 and over in Enfield requested care. This is 1,296 requests per 100,000 people, which is less than the national average of 2,437 per 100,000. This lower number might be because there are fewer older people in Enfield. It could also mean that some older people are not asking for the help they need.
Also in 2024, 2,835 older people in Enfield were receiving care services. This is 866 people per 100,000, compared to the national average of 1,003 per 100,000. Again, this shows fewer older people are getting care in Enfield. It might be because the population is younger, or there may be reasons why older people are not accessing care services.
Older people in Enfield received different types of care in 2024. Nursing care was given to 375 people, and 585 people were in residential care. Many received community care: 685 people had direct payments only, 675 had a personal budget managed by the council, and 410 received council-commissioned support. The rates for nursing and residential care were lower than national averages, while community care rates were higher. This suggests that older people in Enfield prefer to stay at home and get care in the community.
Enfield is a densely populated urban area, with 4,082 people per square kilometre, higher than the national average of 2,468. It has higher levels of deprivation, with a mean deprivation decile of 4.38 compared to the national average of 5.9. The area is mostly urban, with only 0.13% rural areas. These factors may affect how older people access care services. The high density and urban setting might make community care more practical, and higher deprivation might mean some people find it harder to get the care they need.
The data shows that Enfield has fewer older people than other areas, and they are more likely to use community care services. The council might focus on supporting community care options to meet the needs of older residents. Considering the higher levels of deprivation, it is important to ensure that care services are accessible and affordable. By understanding these factors, service providers can plan better to support the older population in Enfield.
✨ ✅ ❌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
Enfield is a densely populated area with a population of 327,429 in 2023. This area has unique challenges and needs, especially for unpaid carers who support others without formal pay. Understanding the situation of carers in Enfield helps us to see how services can be improved.
In 2021, there were about 7,461 unpaid carers per 100,000 people in Enfield. This is slightly lower than the national average of 8,204 carers per 100,000 people. The lower number might be due to the younger population or different family structures in Enfield. It could also mean that some carers are not identified or registered with services.
By 2024, 28.4% of carers in Enfield reported that they had as much social contact as they would like. This is close to the national average of 29.3%. Social contact is important for carers to feel supported and reduce feelings of isolation. The similarity suggests that carers in Enfield face similar challenges to those elsewhere in the country.
In 2024, 66.7% of carers in Enfield felt it was easy to find information about services. This is higher than the national average of 59.3%. This suggests that Enfield has good information channels for carers. Easy access to information helps carers get the support they need.
Enfield provided direct payments to carers at a rate of 76 carers per 100,000 people. This is lower than the national average of 150 per 100,000 people. However, Enfield offered information and advice services to 603 carers per 100,000 people, which is higher than the national average of 339 per 100,000 people. This shows that while direct financial support is less, Enfield focuses on providing information and advice to carers.
Enfield has a high population density of 4,082 people per square kilometre, much higher than the national average of 2,469. It also has a higher level of deprivation, with a mean deprivation decile of 4.38 compared to the national average of 5.9. This means that many people in Enfield face economic challenges. The low percentage of rural areas (0.13% compared to 34.6% nationally) indicates an urban environment, which might affect the availability and type of services for carers.
The data suggests that carers in Enfield benefit from good access to information but may need more direct support. The high levels of deprivation and urban environment mean that carers might face additional stress and challenges. Policymakers could consider increasing direct financial support and providing more social opportunities for carers. Enhancing services could improve the wellbeing of carers and those they care for.
✨ ✅ ❌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
Enfield is an urban area with a population of 327,429 in 2023. This number has slightly decreased from 335,151 in 2019. The population density is high, with 4,082.5 residents per square kilometre, compared to the England average of 2,468.5. Enfield is more densely populated and more deprived than the national average, with a mean deprivation decile of 4.38, lower than England's average of 5.9.
In 2024, Enfield has 87 community-based adult social care providers. This is higher than the national average of 63.8 providers. The high number may be because of the dense, urban population, which often relies on community services. However, Enfield has 76 residential social care providers, which is lower than the national average of 91. The lower number of residential providers could be due to limited space in a crowded urban area.
The proportion of care providers in Enfield that need improvement or are inadequate is 17.07% in 2024. This is slightly higher than the national average of 16.8%. The higher percentage may reflect challenges in providing quality care in a deprived, urban setting.
Staff turnover rate in Enfield is 19.04% for 2023/24, which is similar to the national average of 19%. However, the vacancy rate is 10.99%, higher than the national average of 8.4%. This suggests that while staff may not leave more often than elsewhere, there are more unfilled positions in Enfield.
Despite higher vacancy rates, Enfield reports fewer challenges in recruiting and retaining staff. In 2024, 67.98% of providers in Enfield found recruiting staff more challenging or much more challenging, compared to 79.8% nationally. For retaining staff, 56.04% found it more challenging, while the national figure is 68.1%. This could mean that Enfield has effective recruitment strategies or a larger pool of potential staff due to higher unemployment or other factors.
The higher number of community-based care providers in Enfield aligns with the needs of its densely populated urban area. However, the shortage of residential care providers might lead to unmet needs for those requiring residential services.
The slightly higher proportion of providers needing improvement suggests a need for support to enhance care quality. Higher vacancy rates could affect the ability to deliver consistent care. Addressing staffing gaps is important to maintain service levels.
Given Enfield's higher deprivation levels, there may be greater demand for social care services. Policies should focus on improving care quality, increasing residential care provision, and addressing staffing shortages.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
Enfield is a densely populated area with 327,429 residents in 2023, compared to the England average of 377,060.9. Its population density is 4,082.5 people per square kilometre, higher than the national average of 2,468.5. Enfield has a low rural population, with only 0.13% living in rural areas, while the England average is 34.6%. The area faces challenges with deprivation, having a mean deprivation decile of 4.38, lower than the national average of 5.9.
Despite these challenges, Enfield shows strong performance in hospital discharges. In November 2024, 99.25% of discharges from acceptable trusts were timely, surpassing the national average of 89%. This suggests that hospitals in Enfield are efficient in managing patient flow. Additionally, only 4.92% of discharges were delayed, significantly lower than the national average of 12.3%. The average delay per patient was 0.29 days in Enfield, compared to 0.7 days nationally. This efficiency may ease the burden on healthcare services and improve patient outcomes.
Residents' satisfaction with care and support services in Enfield is slightly higher than the national average. In 2024, 65.2% of respondents expressed satisfaction, while the national average was 64.7%. This indicates that most people are happy with the support they receive. However, another source reports a dissatisfaction rate of 57% in Enfield. This discrepancy suggests that while some residents are content, others may have concerns about the quality or availability of services.
Access to information about services is important for meeting residents' needs. In Enfield, 65.3% of service users found it easy to obtain information in 2024, slightly below the national average of 68.2%. This gap might make it harder for some residents to find the help they need, possibly contributing to dissatisfaction.
Complaints to the ombudsman are higher in Enfield than the national average. There were 6.41 complaints received per 100,000 people in 2024, compared to 4.45 nationally. Likewise, 5.80 complaints were decided per 100,000 people in Enfield, while the national average was 4.12. This indicates that more residents in Enfield are seeking resolution for issues with services. The higher rate of complaints could be due to the greater challenges faced by an urban area with higher deprivation.
The higher deprivation levels in Enfield may increase demand for social care services. With more people needing assistance, services might become strained, leading to longer waiting times or reduced quality. This pressure could explain the higher dissatisfaction and complaint rates. To address these issues, it may be helpful to invest in resources that improve service quality and accessibility.
Improving access to information could also benefit residents. By making it easier to find out about available services, more people might receive the help they need sooner. Enhanced communication could reduce frustration and improve overall satisfaction with care and support.
In conclusion, Enfield demonstrates strengths in efficient hospital discharges and slightly higher satisfaction with care services. However, challenges remain in addressing the needs of a dense and deprived population. Higher complaint rates and difficulties in accessing information suggest areas for improvement. Focusing on these issues could enhance service delivery and improve the well-being of Enfield's residents.
✨ ✅ ❌We need to understand how much money is being spent on social care, and what this provides. First, let’s look at values reported by local authorities.
Gross Current Expenditure (2023-24) captures the total operational cost of services, indicating overall demand and financial commitment. This includes spending on residential and non-residential care, direct payments, and other social care services. Understanding gross expenditure helps assess the scale of social care provision and financial pressures on local authorities.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
This figure reflects the net cost of social care provision to the local authority, indicating the extent of financial support required to meet service demands. Understanding net expenditure helps assess the financial sustainability of social care services and the commitment level of the local authority.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Client Contributions, otherwise known as “Charging”, show the extent to which service users offset costs. Understanding client contributions helps assess the financial burden on individuals and the local authority, highlighting the need for fair and equitable funding mechanisms.
It is important to note that not all local authorities charge for social care services, and that charging can be a barrier to accessing care for some individuals.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Income from NHS reflects external funding and collaboration with the health sector. Understanding NHS contributions helps understand the level of integration between health and social care.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Budget Cuts indicate financial constraints and potential service reductions. Sometimes, budget cuts are explicit, but other times, they aren’t mentioned directly, making tracking this information difficult to access.
As such, this data is not consistently available for all local authorities.
Access Social Care have made a series of Freedom of Information requests about the government’s own assessment of sufficiency of social care funding. The social care sector is in crisis, yet the government refuses to disclose how it determines funding sufficiency. Without transparency, there is little accountability, no independent scrutiny to improve decision-making, and government trust heavily impacted. Evidence from across the sector indicates a severe funding gap, but without open data, meaningful reform remains impossible. True solutions require honesty about the scale of the problem to then work towards a fair and equitable funding model.
The government appears to know how much money is required for social care, and yet they are not making that known.
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In 2024, Enfield's gross total expenditure on social care was approximately £142.7 million. This amount comes from spending £43,604 per 100,000 people, with a population of around 327,429 residents. This expenditure is lower than the national average, where similar areas spend about £180 million, or £47,758 per 100,000 people. This suggests that Enfield is investing less in social care compared to other parts of England.
Enfield's net total expenditure was about £114.7 million, calculated from £35,034 per 100,000 people. The national average net expenditure is around £152.5 million, or £40,472 per 100,000 people. Net expenditure reflects the total spending after deducting income from client and NHS contributions. The lower net spending in Enfield might indicate budget constraints or different funding priorities.
Interestingly, contributions from clients in Enfield were higher than average. Residents contributed about £28 million, which is £8,570 per 100,000 people, while the national average is £7,286 per 100,000 people. This means that people in Enfield are paying more towards their social care services than residents elsewhere. Higher client contributions could be due to policies that require more from service users or a greater ability of residents to pay.
The NHS also contributed more in Enfield, providing approximately £29.4 million, or £8,979 per 100,000 people. The national average NHS contribution is £7,878 per 100,000 people. Higher NHS contributions might reflect increased collaboration between local health services and social care, or a higher demand for integrated care services in Enfield.
Despite receiving more from clients and the NHS, Enfield's overall spending remains lower than the national average. This could suggest that the council relies on these contributions to fund services instead of increasing its own expenditure. With higher contributions from residents and the NHS, there might be less pressure on the council's budget, but it could also place a heavier burden on individuals and health services.
Enfield has a high population density, with 4,082 people per square kilometre compared to the England average of 2,469 people. It also faces higher levels of deprivation, with a mean deprivation decile of 4.38, while the national average is 5.9. In this scale, lower numbers indicate more deprivation. These factors can lead to greater demand for social care services, as more people may need support due to economic challenges.
The population in Enfield has been slowly decreasing, from 335,151 people in 2019 to 327,429 in 2023. Meanwhile, the average population in England has been growing. A declining population can impact funding, as some allocations are based on the number of residents. It might also affect the planning and delivery of services if the needs of the community are changing.
Enfield is almost entirely urban, with only 0.13% of the area being rural, compared to 34.6% on average in England. Urban areas can have different social care needs, such as higher costs of living and different health issues, which might not be fully reflected in funding formulas.
The fact that Enfield spends less on social care, despite higher contributions from clients and the NHS, raises concerns about potential unmet needs. Residents in deprived areas might struggle to afford higher contributions, leading to inequalities in access to care. The higher NHS contributions could also indicate that health services are stepping in to fill gaps in social care provision.
Data about budget cuts is not available, so it is hard to know if spending has been reduced over time. However, there is an indication that the government understands how much money is needed for social care but has not fully provided it. This situation might require policy changes to ensure adequate funding and to reduce the burden on residents and health services.
In conclusion, Enfield's lower spending on social care, combined with higher financial contributions from clients and the NHS, suggests that the area may be facing challenges in meeting the social care needs of its residents. Policymakers might need to consider revising funding arrangements or exploring new ways to support the community effectively.
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