This page provides an overview of social care in Essex, along with key metrics that could affect social care. Understanding these metrics is important because they help contextualise the challenges with social care provision in each local authority. These statistics are important to keep in mind when reviewing the other pages.
Why are these metrics important? Population size and density can affect the demand for social care services. For example, if a local authority has a high population (relative to other areas), it may need to allocate more resources to meet care needs. Similarly, areas with high population density may require more care services due to the increased number of people living in close proximity. Inversely, areas with a low population density may have fewer care needs, but residents may face challenges accessing services due to the distance between them. Lastly, people in rural areas might live further away from services, which can impact their ability to access care, or make it more expensive to provide.
Understanding these metrics can help local authorities plan and allocate resources effectively.
Deprivation decile is a measure of the level of deprivation in a local authority. It is calculated by ranking areas in England from 1 (most deprived) to 10 (least deprived) based on factors such as income, employment, education, and health. A higher decile indicates lower levels of deprivation, while a lower decile suggests higher levels of deprivation. Understanding deprivation levels can help local authorities identify areas that may require additional support and resources to address social care needs.
IMD 2019 for the Lower Tier Local Authorities: Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Castle Point, Chelmsford, Colchester, Epping Forest, Harlow, Maldon, Rochford, Tendring, Uttlesford
Deprivation rank is a measure of the relative deprivation of a local authority compared to other areas in England. It is calculated by ranking areas from 1 (most deprived) to 32,844 (least deprived) Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOA), which can be thought of as “small areas”. This rank is based on factors such as income, employment, education, and health. A lower rank indicates higher levels of deprivation, while a higher rank suggests lower levels of deprivation. Understanding deprivation ranks can help local authorities identify areas that may require additional support and resources to address social care needs.
IMD 2019 for the Lower Tier Local Authorities: Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Castle Point, Chelmsford, Colchester, Epping Forest, Harlow, Maldon, Rochford, Tendring, Uttlesford
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 Essex. 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 Essex is 16.18%. This is slightly lower than the national average of 17.6%. This means fewer people in Essex have disabilities compared to the rest of the country.
In 2024, there were 9,760 requests for care from working-age adults in Essex. This is 635 requests per 100,000 people. The national average is higher, at 1,143 requests per 100,000 people. This could mean that fewer people in Essex are seeking care services.
A total of 6,680 people aged 18 to 64 received care in Essex in 2024. This is 435 people per 100,000, which is less than the national average of 533 per 100,000. This suggests that fewer people are getting care services in Essex compared to other areas.
Different care services are provided in Essex:
Nursing Care: 115 people received nursing care, which is 7.5 per 100,000 people. The national average is 13.75 per 100,000. This shows that fewer people in Essex use nursing care.
Residential Care: 965 people received residential care, equal to 62.8 per 100,000 people. This is slightly higher than the national average of 60.61 per 100,000. This may mean that residential care is more popular in Essex.
Community Care (Direct Payment Only): 1,635 people used this service, which is 106.4 per 100,000 people. The national average is higher at 122.17 per 100,000.
In 2025, people in Essex asked for help with various issues:
Assessments: 29 people requested help, which is 1.89 per 100,000 people. This is slightly higher than the national average of 1.72 per 100,000. More people may be seeking assessments in Essex.
Safeguarding: 27 people asked for help, equal to 1.76 per 100,000 people. The national average is 1.21 per 100,000. This could indicate concerns about safety and well-being.
The population of Essex has been growing, from 1,489,341 in 2019 to 1,536,118 in 2023. The population density is 434.7 people per square kilometre, lower than the England average of 2,468.5. Essex is less crowded than other parts of the country.
The mean deprivation decile in Essex is around 6, close to the national mean of 5.9. This suggests that Essex is average in terms of deprivation. However, some areas have higher or lower deprivation, which can affect the need for services.
The lower proportion of disabled people and fewer requests for care in Essex might mean there is less need. Alternatively, there could be unmet needs if people are not accessing services. The increasing population means that more people may need care in the future.
The lower population density may make it harder to deliver services, as people live further apart. Service planners should consider these factors to ensure that everyone who needs care can receive it.
Essex has fewer disabled people and lower use of care services compared to national averages. Understanding the reasons for this is important. It could help improve service delivery and make sure that all residents get the support they need.
✨ ✅ ❌Older People
Just like with Working Age people, knowing how many older people are requesting social care, how many people are recieving care and what percent of the population is 65+ helps understand need and social care provision at a top level.
Jamaican female, blind and in her 40s. She was in an emergency Bed & Breakfast with her Niece, who acts as her unofficial carer, she is unable to work but would like to go to University. She is receiving PIP but not the Daily Living Allowance which she applied for in June 2021. She is vulnerable and has a history of self harm so was assigned a rehab Support Worker. Vanessa supported her using the Chatbot to chase up her PIP Daily Living allowance application, after waiting for several months and they received a reply within a week but was awarded the lower rate.
Another Chatbot letter was sent to request an urgent assessment due to her vulnerability and this was action quickly by the LA. Vanessa also supported her to use the chatbot and ask the Social worker to be moved to a place that supports her needs and rights. As she was having to use a shared bathroom, toilet and kitchen in a place with drug/alcohol abusers and being blind with no carer, this left her vulnerable. The Chatbot was used again to raise this issue and after a few weeks she was successfully moved to a private property in another area.
This case study is based on real data from Croydon. Have a story to tell? Let us know, and we might display it here!
As above, it is important to see what type of care older people are being provided because it can help explain where additional work is needed.
ASCFR and SALT Data Tables 2023-24 Sheet T34
The population of older people in Essex has been gradually increasing from 2019 to 2023. In 2019, 20.59% of the population were older people, rising to 20.85% in 2023. This is higher than the national average, which was 18.4% in 2019 and fluctuated slightly to 18.5% in 2023. The steady rise in the proportion of older residents suggests that Essex has an ageing population. This could be due to people living longer and younger people moving away.
In 2024, there were 31,090 requests for care from people aged 65 and over in Essex. This amounts to 2,023.93 requests per 100,000 people. The national average is higher, at 2,437.85 requests per 100,000 people. The lower rate of requests in Essex may indicate that older people are less likely to seek help, or that they have better support networks. It could also suggest unmet needs if people are not accessing the services they require.
A total of 13,625 older people received care services in Essex in 2024, which is 886.98 per 100,000 people. This is below the national average of 1,002.86 per 100,000 people. The lower rate of service provision could reflect a healthier older population, or it might point to barriers in accessing care.
Looking at the types of care received, 985 people were in nursing care, which is 64.12 per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of 121.75. This suggests fewer older people in Essex are in nursing care. Similarly, 570 people received direct payments for community care, amounting to 37.11 per 100,000 people, below the national average of 55.44. However, the number of people in residential care is slightly higher than the national average, with 253.56 per 100,000 people in Essex compared to 249.93 nationally. This may indicate a preference for residential care over other forms of support.
In 2025, older people in Essex sought help for various issues. There were 1.89 requests per 100,000 people for assessments, slightly above the national average of 1.72. Safeguarding concerns were also higher, with 1.76 requests per 100,000 people compared to 1.21 nationally. This could highlight areas where older residents feel vulnerable or require additional protection.
Requests for help with charging were lower than the national average, at 1.43 per 100,000 people compared to 5.72. This might suggest fewer issues with understanding or managing care costs. Requests for information and legal issues were also below national figures, indicating that older people in Essex may have better access to information or fewer legal concerns.
The data indicates that Essex has a growing older population, which may increase demand for care services in the future. The lower rates of requests and service provision suggest that current services are managing, but there may be hidden needs. The higher proportion of older people in residential care points to the importance of these services in Essex.
Essex's population density is 434.7 people per square kilometre, lower than the national average of 2,468.5. This could affect how services are delivered, as rural areas may have less access to care facilities. The mean deprivation decile in Essex is above the national average, indicating less deprivation overall. This might contribute to the lower demand for services if older people have more resources.
Considering these factors, it is important for local authorities to plan for the increasing older population. Ensuring that services are accessible, especially in rural areas, will be crucial. Monitoring safeguarding concerns and providing support where needed can improve the wellbeing of older residents. By understanding the specific needs of the older population in Essex, services can be tailored to provide effective care.
✨ ✅ ❌When government support falls short, unpaid carers step in to provide care. However, many struggle with burnout, financial pressure, lack of social contact, and a lack of support. This section explores the number of unpaid carers, their increasing workload, and what forms of support are available.
Carers play a vital role in supporting vulnerable adults, often stepping in to provide care when professional services are unavailable or insufficient. The percentage of carers receiving direct payments highlights financial empowerment, the number of carers accessing services reflects local authority outreach, and the number turning to charities underscores unmet needs. Together, these data points reveal systemic strengths and weaknesses: low direct payment uptake may push carers toward charities, while effective services can reduce dependence on charitable support. Understanding these metrics enables targeted interventions to ensure carers receive the recognition and resources they deserve.
Unpaid carers play a crucial role in supporting vulnerable adults, often stepping in to provide care when professional services are unavailable or insufficient. Understanding the number of unpaid carers in a local authority can be complicated. On the one hand, a relatively high proportion might be indicative of not enough being done by the local authority, and/or a strong community. On the other hand, a relatively lower number can mean good service provision, lower need, lower availability to look after family, or a problem with reporting.
Still, understanding the number of unpaid carers is a baseline number that must be considered.
NOMIS NM_2213_1
These values are widely considered to be an underestimate. See this report from Carers UK for more information.
August 2021 - Patient with dementia who lives in a shared lives setting. Carer had been requesting respite from the council since September 2020. Croydon Social Prescriber helped with a referral to the local authority in March 2021. Assessment conducted, with the promise they would come back with support, which did not happen. 25 August, social prescriber used the chatbot to find the right legal wording for the situation. The email was sent at 4.52pm that day. At 5.12pm the council contacted the carer to discuss the respite. This was the impact of one letter, addressed to a senior team.
This case study is based on real data from Croydon. Have a story to tell? Let us know, and we might display it here!
Social contact is important for carers’ well-being, as it can help reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. Understanding the level of social contact that carers have can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a low level of social contact may indicate a need for more social activities or support groups for carers, while a high level of social contact may suggest that carers have a strong support network.
Survey of Adult Carers in England (SACE) - question 11
The type of support available to carers can vary significantly, impacting their ability to provide care effectively. Understanding the types of support available can help identify areas where additional resources may be needed. For example, a high number of carers receiving respite care may indicate a need for more support with caregiving responsibilities, while a low number of carers receiving financial support may suggest a need for additional financial assistance.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T47
Access to information is crucial for carers to navigate the social care system effectively. Understanding how easy it is for carers to get information can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of carers finding it difficult to get information may indicate a need for improved communication and support services, while a low number of carers finding it difficult to get information may suggest that existing services are effective.
Would you like social care information? Try our Chatbot!
Survey of Adult Carers in England (SACE) - question 17
Note: these values are a work in progress… expect these numbers to go up
Access Social Care and other Helplines help people with information, advice, and support related to social care. Understanding the types of calls received by carers can highlight areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of calls related to financial support may indicate a need for more financial assistance for carers, while a high number of calls related to respite care may suggest a need for additional support with caregiving responsibilities.
It is important to note that, just as in the previous section, low numbers of requests might indicate that people don’t know where to get help, don’t feel they can get (or deserve) help, or other outreach problems. This is particularly important because we often work with people where the role of a carer is not recognised, or where the carer themselves does not recognise their role.
Access Social Care casework, AccessAva data, and helpline partner submissions
In 2021, Essex had 8,259 unpaid carers for every 100,000 people. This is slightly higher than the national average of 8,204 unpaid carers per 100,000 people. With a population of over 1.5 million, this means there are around 124,500 unpaid carers in Essex.
In 2024, 41.5% of carers in Essex said they had as much social contact as they would like. This is better than the national average of 29.3%. This suggests that carers in Essex may have stronger social networks or community support.
However, only 46% of carers in Essex felt it was easy to find information about services in 2024. This is lower than the national average of 59.3%. This means that many carers in Essex may not know about the help that is available to them.
When we look at the types of support carers receive, we see some differences. In 2024, only 37 carers per 100,000 people in Essex received direct payments. This is lower than the national average of 150 per 100,000 people. Also, 411 carers per 100,000 people in Essex received no direct support, which is higher than the national average of 130 per 100,000 people. This suggests that many carers in Essex are not getting the support they need.
At the same time, 91 carers per 100,000 people in Essex received respite care or other support delivered to the person they care for. This is higher than the national average of 70 per 100,000 people. This means that more carers in Essex are getting some help through services for the person they care for.
Essex is less densely populated than the national average, with 435 people per square kilometre compared to 2,469 for England. This can make it harder to provide services, especially in rural areas. Also, Essex is less deprived than many other areas, with a higher mean deprivation decile. This might mean that Essex gets less funding for services.
The growing population in Essex means that there may be more demand for carer support in the future. With more unpaid carers and many not receiving direct support, it is important to improve access to services. Making information easier to find could help carers get the support they need.
Overall, carers in Essex have good social contact but may struggle to find information about services. Many are not receiving direct support. There is a need to improve access to information and support services for carers in Essex.
✨ ✅ ❌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
Essex is a county in England with a growing population. In 2023, the population reached about 1,536,118 people, which is much higher than the England average of around 377,061. This large population means there is a higher demand for adult social care services.
In 2024, Essex had 311 community-based adult social care services. This number is significantly higher than the national average of 63.8 services. Similarly, there were 367 residential social care providers in Essex, compared to the England average of 91 providers. The high number of care providers reflects the need to serve a larger population.
The proportion of care providers in Essex that need improvement or are inadequate is 17.18%. This is slightly higher than the national average of 16.8%. This suggests that while there are many care providers in Essex, ensuring high quality across all services is a challenge. Efforts may be needed to support these providers to improve the quality of care.
Staffing is a key issue for care providers in Essex. The turnover rate for staff is 23.87%, which is similar to the regional average of 23.9%. However, the vacancy rate is 10.16%, higher than the national average of 8.4%. This means that many positions remain unfilled, which can impact the ability of care providers to offer consistent services.
Furthermore, 82.88% of care providers in Essex find it more challenging or much more challenging to recruit staff, compared to 79.8% in the East of England. Retaining staff is also a concern, with 70.90% finding it more challenging or much more challenging, higher than the regional average of 68.1%. These difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff may contribute to the higher proportion of providers needing improvement.
The challenges faced by care providers in Essex can be linked to several factors. The population density in Essex is 434.7 residents per square kilometre, which is lower than the England average of 2,468.5. This lower density can make it harder to attract staff, especially in rural areas. Some parts of Essex are entirely rural, which can pose additional challenges for service delivery and staff recruitment.
Deprivation levels vary across Essex. The mean deprivation decile ranges from about 5.2 to 8.0, compared to the England average of 5.9. Areas with higher deprivation may have greater needs for care services but might also face more challenges in providing quality care due to limited resources.
The high vacancy rates and difficulties in staffing suggest that care providers in Essex need support to attract and keep staff. This could include offering better training, improving working conditions, and providing opportunities for career development. Addressing these issues may help improve the quality of care and reduce the number of providers needing improvement.
Policymakers may need to consider these factors when allocating resources. Support for rural areas and areas with higher deprivation could help ensure that all residents have access to quality care services.
In summary, Essex has a higher number of care providers to meet the needs of its large and growing population. However, challenges in staff recruitment and retention are impacting the quality of care. By addressing these staffing issues and supporting providers, Essex can work towards improving its care services for all residents.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
Essex is a large county with a growing population. In 2023, it had over 1.5 million people, much higher than the England average of 377,060.9. The county is less densely populated, with 434.7 people per square kilometre, compared to the England average of 2,468.5. This mix of urban and rural areas affects how services are delivered.
In November 2024, 91.17% of discharges in Essex were from acceptable trusts. This is higher than the national average of 89%. It shows that Essex is performing well in ensuring patients are discharged from trusted healthcare providers. Furthermore, only 6.6% of discharges were delayed, which is much lower than the national average of 12.3%. This suggests that Essex has efficient hospital processes and good coordination in patient care.
The average delay for discharges in Essex was 0.44 days, compared to the national average of 0.7 days. Shorter delays mean patients can return home or move to the next stage of care sooner. This efficiency is likely to benefit patient recovery and satisfaction.
Despite the efficiency in discharges, patient satisfaction in Essex is slightly below the national average. In 2024, 61.7% of respondents said they were satisfied with their care and support, while the national average was 64.7%. This indicates that there is room for improvement in how services meet patient needs and expectations.
Another survey by NatCen showed that 57% of people in Essex were dissatisfied with social care. This highlights a concern that needs to be addressed. One possible reason is that only 61.1% of people found it easy to get information about services, which is below the national average of 68.2%. If people struggle to find information, they may feel less supported and more frustrated.
The number of complaints made to the ombudsman in Essex is lower than the national average. In 2024, there were 3.78 complaints received per 100,000 people, compared to 4.45 nationally. Similarly, 3.12 complaints were decided per 100,000 people, while the national average was 4.12. Fewer complaints may suggest that fewer people are experiencing serious issues with services. However, it might also mean that people are not aware of how to make a complaint, especially if they find it hard to get information.
Essex has areas with different levels of deprivation. The mean deprivation decile in 2019 ranged from 5.2 to 8, with the England average being 5.9. A higher decile means less deprivation. Some parts of Essex have more deprivation, which can affect how people access services and their satisfaction. The standard deviation of the deprivation decile is higher in Essex, indicating more inequality between areas.
The county also has both urban and rural areas. In some districts, up to 100% of the area is rural, while others are entirely urban. Rural areas often face challenges like fewer services and difficulties in transportation. This can make it harder for residents to find information and access the care they need, leading to lower satisfaction.
Essex shows strong performance in healthcare efficiency, with high percentages of discharges from acceptable trusts and low rates of delayed discharges. However, patient satisfaction is slightly below the national average, and many people find it hard to get information about services. The mix of urban and rural areas, along with varying levels of deprivation, may contribute to these issues.
To improve satisfaction, Essex could focus on making information about services more accessible, especially in rural and deprived areas. By addressing these challenges, the county can ensure that all residents receive the support they need and feel satisfied with their care.
✨ ✅ ❌We need to understand how much money is being spent on social care, and what this provides. First, let’s look at values reported by local authorities.
Gross Current Expenditure (2023-24) captures the total operational cost of services, indicating overall demand and financial commitment. This includes spending on residential and non-residential care, direct payments, and other social care services. Understanding gross expenditure helps assess the scale of social care provision and financial pressures on local authorities.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
This figure reflects the net cost of social care provision to the local authority, indicating the extent of financial support required to meet service demands. Understanding net expenditure helps assess the financial sustainability of social care services and the commitment level of the local authority.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Client Contributions, otherwise known as “Charging”, show the extent to which service users offset costs. Understanding client contributions helps assess the financial burden on individuals and the local authority, highlighting the need for fair and equitable funding mechanisms.
It is important to note that not all local authorities charge for social care services, and that charging can be a barrier to accessing care for some individuals.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Income from NHS reflects external funding and collaboration with the health sector. Understanding NHS contributions helps understand the level of integration between health and social care.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Budget Cuts indicate financial constraints and potential service reductions. Sometimes, budget cuts are explicit, but other times, they aren’t mentioned directly, making tracking this information difficult to access.
As such, this data is not consistently available for all local authorities.
Access Social Care have made a series of Freedom of Information requests about the government’s own assessment of sufficiency of social care funding. The social care sector is in crisis, yet the government refuses to disclose how it determines funding sufficiency. Without transparency, there is little accountability, no independent scrutiny to improve decision-making, and government trust heavily impacted. Evidence from across the sector indicates a severe funding gap, but without open data, meaningful reform remains impossible. True solutions require honesty about the scale of the problem to then work towards a fair and equitable funding model.
The government appears to know how much money is required for social care, and yet they are not making that known.
✨ ✅ ❌?
The gross total expenditure on social care in Essex for the year 2024 is £48,722.49 per 100,000 people. This is slightly higher than the national average of £47,758.16 per 100,000 people. This suggests that Essex is investing more in social care compared to other regions. The higher spending might be due to the growing population, which increased from 1,489,341 in 2019 to 1,536,118 in 2023. A larger population can lead to greater demand for social care services.
The net total expenditure in Essex is £41,870.16 per 100,000 people, while the national average is £40,471.81 per 100,000 people. The net expenditure accounts for contributions from clients and the NHS. In Essex, client contributions are £6,852.34 per 100,000 people, which is lower than the national average of £7,286.35 per 100,000 people. This means that individuals in Essex are paying less towards their care. This could be due to the county's efforts to reduce the financial burden on residents or reflect the economic status of the population.
The NHS contributions in Essex are £4,207.55 per 100,000 people, significantly lower than the national average of £7,878.45 per 100,000 people. This suggests that the NHS is contributing less to social care in Essex compared to other areas. The lower NHS contributions might require the local authority to allocate more funds to meet the social care needs of the community.
Essex has a population density of 434.7 residents per square kilometre, which is much lower than the national average of 2,468.5 residents per square kilometre. The county includes both urban and rural areas, with some districts being 100% rural and others entirely urban. The variation in rural and urban areas can affect how social care services are delivered. Rural areas might face challenges like limited access to services and transportation issues.
The deprivation indices show that Essex is less deprived than the national average. With mean deprivation decile scores ranging from 6.17 to 8.15 in 2019 (where a higher decile indicates less deprivation) and the national average being 5.9, Essex appears to have a relatively affluent population. However, there is some variation within the county, as indicated by the standard deviation values. Less deprived areas might have different social care needs compared to more deprived areas, possibly requiring different approaches to service provision.
The combination of a growing population and lower deprivation levels suggests that Essex might have a higher proportion of elderly residents or individuals who need social care services due to age-related conditions. The lower client and NHS contributions imply that the local authority is shouldering more of the financial responsibility for social care. This could be a strategic decision to ensure that all residents have access to necessary services without financial barriers.
In summary, Essex is investing more in social care than the national average, both in gross and net terms. The growing and less densely populated county faces unique challenges in delivering social care services, especially in rural areas. The lower contributions from clients and the NHS highlight the local authority's role in funding social care. Understanding these factors is important for planning and allocating resources effectively to meet the needs of Essex's residents.
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