This page provides an overview of social care in Greenwich, 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 Greenwich. 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 age-standardised proportion of people with disabilities in Greenwich is 17.7%, slightly above the national average of 17.6%. This indicates that the prevalence of disability in Greenwich is similar to that of England as a whole.
In 2024, there were 7,340 requests for care from working-age adults in Greenwich. This equates to 2,495.6 requests per 100,000 people, which is significantly higher than the national average of 1,143.5 per 100,000. This suggests a greater demand for care services among the working-age population in Greenwich.
A total of 2,410 individuals aged 18 to 64 received care services in 2024. This represents 819.4 people per 100,000, compared to the national average of 532.7 per 100,000. The higher rate of care recipients may reflect greater needs within the community or more accessible services.
Community-based services are widely used in Greenwich. Notably, 1,025 people received community support commissioned by the council, amounting to 348.5 per 100,000 people. This is substantially higher than the national average of 58.3 per 100,000. Similarly, 670 individuals used council-managed personal budgets for community care, which is 227.8 per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 266.7 per 100,000.
Residential and nursing care services are less utilised but still significant. There were 175 individuals in residential care (59.5 per 100,000) and 25 in nursing care (8.5 per 100,000). These figures are close to the national averages of 60.6 and 13.75 per 100,000, respectively.
In 2025, small numbers of people requested help with assessments (4 individuals), care plans (7), charging (15), information seeking (3), and safeguarding (2). The per capita rates are generally similar to national averages, except for requests related to care plans, which are higher in Greenwich (2.38 per 100,000) than nationally (1.39 per 100,000).
Greenwich's population has grown from 288,205 in 2019 to 294,113 in 2023. The area is densely populated, with 6,108.6 residents per square kilometre, much higher than the England average of 2,468.5. This urban setting may influence the availability and demand for care services.
The mean deprivation decile in Greenwich is 4.32, below the national average of 5.9, indicating higher levels of deprivation. Deprivation is often linked to increased health needs and disabilities, which may explain the higher demand for care services.
The higher demand for care services among working-age adults suggests that Greenwich may need to allocate more resources to meet these needs. The preference for community-based services indicates that investing in these areas could be beneficial. Addressing socioeconomic factors such as deprivation might also help reduce the need for certain care services by improving overall health and wellbeing.
✨ ✅ ❌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 Greenwich has been growing steadily from 2019 to 2023. In 2019, there were 288,205 people living in the area. By 2023, this number increased to 294,113. Despite this growth, the proportion of older people in Greenwich remains lower than the national average.
Between 2019 and 2023, the percentage of older people in Greenwich rose slightly from 10.27% to 10.72%. In contrast, the national average during this period hovered around 18.5%. This suggests that Greenwich has a younger population compared to other parts of England. The lower proportion of older residents might be due to various factors, such as housing availability, employment opportunities, or lifestyle preferences that attract younger individuals to the area.
In 2024, there were 4,660 requests for care from people aged 65 and over in Greenwich. This equates to 1,584 requests per 100,000 people. The national average is higher, with 2,438 requests per 100,000 people. This lower rate in Greenwich could mean that fewer older residents are seeking formal care services. Possible reasons might include stronger family support networks, better health among the older population, or barriers in accessing care services.
Also in 2024, 2,645 older people in Greenwich were receiving care services. This amounts to 899 people per 100,000 population. The national average is slightly higher at 1,003 people per 100,000. This indicates that a smaller proportion of older residents in Greenwich are receiving care compared to other areas. It may reflect the younger demographic and potentially fewer health issues requiring formal care among the older population.
Older people in Greenwich receive various types of care:
In 2024, 255 individuals were in nursing care, which is 87 people per 100,000. Nationally, the rate is higher at 122 people per 100,000. Residential care had 260 individuals, or 88 people per 100,000, compared to the national average of 250 people per 100,000. This suggests that fewer older residents in Greenwich are using institutional care services.
Community care services were more commonly used. There were 1,640 people receiving a council-managed personal budget in the community, equating to 558 people per 100,000. This is slightly higher than the national average of 508 people per 100,000. It indicates a preference for support that allows older people to remain in their homes.
In 2025, older residents in Greenwich made specific requests for help:
There were 15 requests related to charging for services, which is about 5 requests per 100,000 people. This is close to the national average of 6 requests per 100,000. Requests for care plans numbered 7, or 2 requests per 100,000, slightly above the national average of 1 request per 100,000. Other requests, such as for assessments and information seeking, were lower in number.
Several factors might influence these patterns:
Population Density: Greenwich has a high population density of 6,108.6 people per square kilometre, compared to the national average of 2,468.5. High density may impact the availability and accessibility of services for older people.
Deprivation Levels: The mean deprivation decile in Greenwich is 4.32, lower than the national average of 5.9. This indicates higher levels of deprivation. While this might suggest greater need, the lower uptake of care services could be due to barriers such as awareness or accessibility.
Urban Setting: With 0% of its area classified as rural (compared to the national average of 34.6%), Greenwich's urban environment might affect where older people choose to live, possibly contributing to the lower proportion of older residents.
The data suggests that while the number of older people in Greenwich is increasing, it remains a smaller proportion compared to the national average. Service providers might focus on community-based support, as there is a higher uptake of services that help older individuals remain at home. Efforts could be made to address potential barriers to accessing care, especially considering the higher deprivation levels.
Planning for the future should consider the gradual growth of the older population. Even if the proportion remains low, the absolute number of older residents is rising. Ensuring that care services are accessible and tailored to the needs of this group will be important for effective resource allocation.
✨ ✅ ❌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, Greenwich had 6,696.9 unpaid carers per 100,000 people. This is lower than the national average of 8,203.7 unpaid carers per 100,000 people. This suggests that Greenwich has fewer unpaid carers compared to other areas in England. The population of Greenwich at that time was 289,537, which is slightly below the England average. However, Greenwich is more densely populated, with 6,108.6 residents per square kilometre, compared to the national average of 2,468.5. The urban setting and dense population might influence family structures and the distribution of caregiving responsibilities.
Greenwich has a mean deprivation decile of 4.32, where 1 is the most deprived and 10 is the least deprived. This is lower than the England average of 5.9, indicating that Greenwich is relatively more deprived. Deprivation can affect the need for unpaid carers and access to support services. Families in more deprived areas might face greater challenges in providing care without external assistance.
In 2024, 30.8% of carers in Greenwich reported that they had as much social contact as they would like. This is slightly higher than the national average of 29.3%. This suggests that carers in Greenwich may feel somewhat better supported socially than carers in other parts of the country. Social contact is important for carers' well-being, helping them to cope with the demands of their role.
Regarding support services in 2024, Greenwich had 64.6 carers per 100,000 people receiving direct payments. This is lower than the national average of 149.9 per 100,000. Direct payments allow carers to arrange and pay for their own support, offering flexibility. The lower uptake in Greenwich might indicate barriers to accessing this type of support or a lack of awareness among carers.
For information, advice, and other universal services, 282.2 carers per 100,000 people in Greenwich accessed these services. This is below the national average of 338.7 per 100,000. Access to information and advice is crucial for carers to navigate available support. The lower figure in Greenwich might suggest that carers are not fully reaching these resources.
The number of carers receiving no direct support was 105.4 per 100,000 people in Greenwich, compared to the national average of 129.6 per 100,000. This might indicate that more carers in Greenwich are accessing some form of support than in other areas. However, the lower figures in other support categories suggest there may be unmet needs.
Respite care, which provides carers with a break by supporting the cared-for person, was accessed by 30.6 per 100,000 people in Greenwich. This is less than half the national average of 70 per 100,000. Limited access to respite services can increase the risk of carer burnout, affecting the quality of care provided.
In 2024, 60.9% of carers in Greenwich felt it was easy to find information about services, slightly higher than the national average of 59.3%. This is positive, as knowing where to find help is a key step in accessing support. Efforts to improve information accessibility in Greenwich seem to be making a difference.
The lower number of unpaid carers in Greenwich could be influenced by its urban environment, population density, and younger population demographics. The higher deprivation levels may impact both the need for carers and the ability to access support services. While carers in Greenwich feel socially supported and find it easier to access information, they may receive less formal support compared to the national average.
These findings suggest a need to improve the provision of direct support and respite services in Greenwich. Enhancing awareness and access to support options could benefit carers. Addressing these gaps is important for the well-being of carers and those they care for. By focusing on these areas, Greenwich can improve support for carers and ensure resources are allocated effectively.
✨ ✅ ❌Care providers are essential for delivering social care services, including home care agencies and care homes. The quality of care they provide can vary significantly, impacting the well-being of service users. This section examines the number and types of care providers, their quality ratings, and some of the difficulties of maintaining high standards. Understanding these metrics is crucial for ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive high-quality care.
The number and types of care providers in a local authority can impact the availability and quality of social care services. Understanding the distribution of care providers directly influences people’s ability to get the care they need.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rates care providers based on their quality of care, safety, and effectiveness. Understanding the quality ratings of care providers can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of care providers with low ratings may indicate a need for improved training and support, while a high number of care providers with high ratings may suggest that existing services are effective.
Framework rates are the agreed prices that local authorities pay care providers for social care services, such as home care and residential care. These rates are crucial because they determine the affordability, availability, and quality of care in a city. If rates are too low, providers may struggle to sustain services, leading to workforce shortages, poor care quality, and limited access for those relying on council-funded care.
Understanding framework rates helps assess whether local authorities are adequately funding social care, ensuring fair pay for care workers, and maintaining a sustainable care market that meets residents’ needs.
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Several providers are finding it increasingly difficult to stay in business, and sometimes several providers collapse at once. For example, when pay rises are approved without consultation and effective immediately, providers may not be able to afford to pay their staff. This can cause a chain-effect which leads to collapse in the market, and a lack of care for those who need it.
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Workforce turnover rate is a measure of the number of staff leaving a care provider over a specific period. High turnover rates can indicate issues with staff retention, such as low pay, poor working conditions, or lack of training and support. Understanding workforce turnover rates can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed to improve staff retention and ensure high-quality care services.
NOTE: This data series is based on regional data
Staff retention is crucial for maintaining high-quality care services. Understanding the challenges faced by care providers in retaining staff can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of care providers struggling to retain staff may indicate a need for improved training and support, while a low number of care providers facing retention challenges may suggest that existing services are effective.
This dataset describes the results of a survey asking care providers about their challenges in retaining staff.
NOTE: This data series is based on regional data
Workforce_survey_data_tables, Tab 6_2
Vacancy rate is a measure of the number of unfilled positions within a care provider over a specific period. High vacancy rates can indicate issues with staff recruitment, such as low pay, poor working conditions, or lack of training and support. Understanding vacancy rates can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed to improve staff recruitment and ensure high-quality care services.
Recruiting staff is essential for maintaining high-quality care services, and for backfilling staff when they leave. Understanding the challenges faced by care providers in recruiting staff can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of care providers struggling to recruit staff may indicate a need for improved training and support, or can point to a systemic problem, such as low pay, poor working conditions, or not enough people interested in this job type.
Staff recruitment is important as it’s one of the areas that have levers to pull outside of social care, for example, by changing how many visas are awarded to social care workers.
NOTE: This data series is based on regional data
Workforce_survey_data_tables, Tab 6_2
In 2024, Greenwich had 56 community-based adult social care services and 40 residential social care providers. Nationally, the average numbers are 63.8 and 91 respectively. When considering population size, Greenwich has about 19 community-based providers per 100,000 people, which is higher than the national average of approximately 17 per 100,000. For residential providers, Greenwich has around 14 per 100,000 people, lower than the national average of about 24 per 100,000. This suggests that Greenwich relies more on community-based care compared to residential care.
The proportion of care providers needing improvement or rated inadequate in Greenwich is 24.74%, higher than the national average of 16.8%. This indicates that nearly a quarter of care providers in Greenwich are not meeting the expected standards. The higher level of deprivation in Greenwich, with a mean deprivation decile of 4.32 compared to the national average of 5.9, may contribute to this issue. Areas with higher deprivation often face challenges such as limited resources and higher demand for services, which can affect the quality of care.
In the 2023/24 period, Greenwich had a staff turnover rate of 19.04%, which is similar to the national average of 19%. The vacancy rate in Greenwich was 7.86%, slightly lower than the national average of 8.4%. This suggests that while staff are leaving positions at a rate comparable to the rest of the country, Greenwich is somewhat more effective at filling vacancies. The high population density of Greenwich, with 6,108.6 residents per square kilometre compared to the national average of 2,468.5, may provide a larger pool of potential workers.
In 2024, 56.04% of care providers in Greenwich reported that retaining staff was more challenging or much more challenging, compared to 68.1% nationally. For recruiting staff, 67.98% of providers in Greenwich found it more challenging or much more challenging, while the national figure was 79.8%. While these challenges are significant, they are less severe in Greenwich than in other parts of the country. The urban setting of Greenwich, with 0% rural areas compared to the national average of 34.6% rural, might make it easier to attract staff due to better transport links and amenities.
Greenwich's higher population density and urban environment may influence its care provision landscape. The reliance on community-based care providers could reflect a preference for supporting individuals in their own homes, which aligns with modern care strategies. However, the higher proportion of providers needing improvement suggests that quality may be affected by factors such as staff shortages, funding limitations, or high demand for services due to the area's deprivation levels.
The data implies that Greenwich needs to focus on improving the quality of its care providers. Initiatives could include targeted support for providers struggling to meet standards, investment in staff training, and strategies to enhance recruitment and retention. Given the challenges associated with higher deprivation, there may be a need for additional resources to ensure that care providers can meet the community's needs effectively. Policymakers might consider these factors when allocating funding and support to the area.
✨ ✅ ❌Historically, hospital delays have been due in large part, to the inability to discharge patients into social care. We no longer have DTOC data, but we can still look at the number of hospital delays and the number of facilities requiring improvement.
CQC, as the regulator of health and social care services in England, is beginning to rate Local Authorities on their social care provision. Understanding the CQC rating of a local authority should be used as the most official evaluation of service care provision. For example, a low rating may indicate a need for improved service delivery, while a high rating may suggest that existing services are effective.
Hospital delays can have a significant impact on patient care and outcomes, and are in large part the result of not having invested sufficiently in social care. Understanding the number of hospital delays in a local authority can be a sympthom of a poorly working social care sector. For example, a high number of hospital delays may indicate a need for improved discharge planning and coordination, not enough places to discharge people to, lack of sufficient staff to assess patients, or a lack of care providers.
Discharge-Ready-Date-monthly-data-webfile-November-2024, Tab UTLA Acceptable
This metric illustrates how long patients are delayed in hospital before being discharged. Higher average delays mean that patients are spending more time in hospital than necessary, which can lead to increased costs, reduced bed availability, and poorer patient outcomes. This also means that the beds are not available for people that might desperately need them for life-saving procedures.
Discharge-Ready-Date-monthly-data-webfile-November-2024, Tab UTLA Acceptable
Delayed Transfer of Care (DTOC) refers to the time between a patient being declared medically fit for discharge and actually leaving the hospital. Understanding the number of DTOCs in a local authority can help identify precisely where the social care system is failing.
Unfortunately, this dataset is no longer being generated.
Reablement is a short-term service that helps people regain independence and confidence after a period of illness or injury. Understanding the number of people receiving reablement services can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of people receiving reablement services may indicate a need for more support with daily living activities, while a low number of people receiving reablement services may suggest that existing services are effective.
Coming soon!
Service user satisfaction is a key indicator of the quality of social care services. Understanding service user satisfaction can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a low level of service user satisfaction may indicate a need for improved service delivery, while a high level of service user satisfaction may suggest that existing services are effective.
It is important to note that the people surveyed are already receiving service care. Notably absent are all the people that are not yet lucky enough to be receiving care.
Personal Social Services Adult Social Care Survey, question 1
Access to information is crucial for people using social care services to navigate the system effectively. Understanding how easy it is for people to get information can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of people finding it difficult to get information may indicate a need for improved communication and support services, while a low number of people finding it difficult to get information may suggest that existing services are effective.
Would you like social care information? Try our Chatbot!
Personal Social Services Adult Social Care Survey, question 13
An ombudsman is a person who has been appointed to look into complaints about companies and organisations. The number of cases received and decided by the Ombudsman is important because it provides insight into the volume of complaints about a local authority’s social care services and how effectively these complaints are being addressed. The number of cases received indicates the level of dissatisfaction or systemic issues within a council’s care provision, while the number of cases decided shows how efficiently the Ombudsman is processing and resolving complaints. A large gap between the two may suggest delays in complaint handling, leaving individuals waiting.
It is important to note that contacting the Ombudsman is widely considered a last resort, often discouraged, and sometimes penalised.
Greenwich is a borough in England with a growing population of over 294,000 people in 2023. It is very densely populated, with about 6,108 residents per square kilometre, much higher than the England average of 2,468.5. Greenwich has higher levels of deprivation compared to the national average, with a mean deprivation decile of 4.32, while the England average is 5.9. This means that Greenwich faces more social and economic challenges than many other areas.
In terms of hospital discharges, Greenwich performs well. In November 2024, 99.8% of discharges from local acceptable trusts were successful. This is higher than the national average of 89%. Fewer patients experienced delays when leaving the hospital. Only 7.7% of discharges were delayed in Greenwich, compared to 12.3% across England. This suggests that hospitals and social care services in Greenwich work together effectively to help patients return home or move to other care settings promptly.
The average delay for those who did experience a delayed discharge was also shorter in Greenwich. The average delay was 0.61 days, while the national average was 0.7 days. This indicates that when delays happen, they are resolved more quickly in Greenwich than in other parts of the country.
However, when it comes to satisfaction with care and support, Greenwich is below the national average. In 2024, 57.9% of respondents in Greenwich said they were satisfied with their care and support. The national average was higher, at 64.7%. This means that a significant number of people in Greenwich are not satisfied with the care and support they receive. Another source, NatCen, reported a similar figure, with 57% expressing dissatisfaction with social care. This suggests that there may be underlying issues affecting people's experiences of care in Greenwich.
On a positive note, 73.8% of people using services in Greenwich felt it was easy to find information about services in 2024. This is better than the national average of 68.2%. This indicates that Greenwich has effective ways of providing information to people who need care and support, helping them access services more easily.
Complaints to the ombudsman are another important measure of service quality. In Greenwich, there were 2.38 complaints received per 100,000 people in 2024, which is lower than the national average of 4.45 per 100,000 people. Similarly, the number of complaints decided by the ombudsman was 1.7 per 100,000 people in Greenwich, compared to 4.12 nationally. This could suggest that fewer people in Greenwich feel the need to escalate their complaints to the ombudsman, possibly because issues are resolved earlier or there are fewer serious problems.
The data shows that while Greenwich performs well in operational areas like hospital discharges and providing information, there are concerns about satisfaction with care and support. The high population density and higher levels of deprivation may contribute to these challenges. People in more deprived and densely populated areas might have more complex needs or higher expectations that are harder to meet. This might affect how satisfied they feel with the services they receive.
Improving satisfaction levels may require focusing on the quality of care and support offered, ensuring that services meet the specific needs of the community. Addressing factors that affect people's experiences, such as staff availability, communication, and personalised care, could help increase satisfaction. Since people find it easy to get information about services, building on this strength might also help improve overall satisfaction.
In conclusion, Greenwich shows strengths in efficient service delivery, particularly in hospital discharges and providing information to users. However, lower satisfaction rates suggest that there is room for improvement in the quality of care and support. Understanding and addressing the reasons behind this dissatisfaction could help enhance services and better meet the needs of the community.
✨ ✅ ❌We need to understand how much money is being spent on social care, and what this provides. First, let’s look at values reported by local authorities.
Gross Current Expenditure (2023-24) captures the total operational cost of services, indicating overall demand and financial commitment. This includes spending on residential and non-residential care, direct payments, and other social care services. Understanding gross expenditure helps assess the scale of social care provision and financial pressures on local authorities.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
This figure reflects the net cost of social care provision to the local authority, indicating the extent of financial support required to meet service demands. Understanding net expenditure helps assess the financial sustainability of social care services and the commitment level of the local authority.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Client Contributions, otherwise known as “Charging”, show the extent to which service users offset costs. Understanding client contributions helps assess the financial burden on individuals and the local authority, highlighting the need for fair and equitable funding mechanisms.
It is important to note that not all local authorities charge for social care services, and that charging can be a barrier to accessing care for some individuals.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Income from NHS reflects external funding and collaboration with the health sector. Understanding NHS contributions helps understand the level of integration between health and social care.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Budget Cuts indicate financial constraints and potential service reductions. Sometimes, budget cuts are explicit, but other times, they aren’t mentioned directly, making tracking this information difficult to access.
As such, this data is not consistently available for all local authorities.
Access Social Care have made a series of Freedom of Information requests about the government’s own assessment of sufficiency of social care funding. The social care sector is in crisis, yet the government refuses to disclose how it determines funding sufficiency. Without transparency, there is little accountability, no independent scrutiny to improve decision-making, and government trust heavily impacted. Evidence from across the sector indicates a severe funding gap, but without open data, meaningful reform remains impossible. True solutions require honesty about the scale of the problem to then work towards a fair and equitable funding model.
The government appears to know how much money is required for social care, and yet they are not making that known.
✨ ✅ ❌?
In 2024, the gross total expenditure on social care in Greenwich is £43,680.86 per 100,000 people. This is less than the national average of £47,758.16 per 100,000 people. The net total expenditure in Greenwich is £38,973.48 per 100,000 people, also lower than the national average of £40,471.81 per 100,000 people.
Client contributions in Greenwich are £4,707.38 per 100,000 people. This is less than the national average of £7,286.35 per 100,000 people. NHS contributions are also lower in Greenwich at £5,561.38 per 100,000 people, compared to £7,878.45 nationally. Lower contributions from clients and the NHS mean there is less money available for social care services in Greenwich.
Greenwich has a mean deprivation decile of 4.32, which is lower than the England average of 5.9. A lower decile indicates higher deprivation. This means that many people in Greenwich may have less money. They might not be able to contribute much to their social care. This could be why client contributions are lower.
In 2021, Greenwich had 6,108.6 usual residents per square kilometre. This is much higher than the England average of 2,468.5 residents per square kilometre. A high population density can lead to more people needing social care services. With more people in a smaller area, the demand for services might be greater.
The population of Greenwich has been growing. In 2019, there were 288,205 people. By 2023, the number increased to 294,113 people. As the population grows, more people may need social care. But spending per person remains lower than the national average. This could lead to challenges in meeting everyone's needs.
Lower spending and higher demand might cause problems for social care services in Greenwich. With less funding, it might be hard to provide all the needed services. People in Greenwich may face unmet needs in social care. This situation could affect their well-being.
Information about budget cuts is not available. It seems the government knows how much money is needed for social care, but they are not sharing this information. Without knowing about the budget, it is difficult to plan for the future. This makes it hard to address funding issues in social care.
Greenwich faces challenges in social care spending. Lower contributions and higher deprivation affect funding. A growing and dense population increases demand for services. Without adequate funding, there may be unmet needs in the community. It is important to address these issues to ensure that everyone receives the care they need.
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