This page provides an overview of social care in Halton, 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 Halton. Understanding the types of care available can help local authorities identify areas where additional support and resources may be needed. For example, a high number of people receiving personal care may indicate a need for more support with daily living activities, while a high number of people receiving respite care may suggest a need for additional support for carers.
ASCFR and SALT Data Tables 2023-24 Sheet T34
In Halton, 22.6% of people have a disability. This is higher than the England average of 17.6%. This means that Halton has more people with disabilities than many other places in England.
In 2024, there were 840 requests for care from people of working age in Halton. This is 648.2 requests per 100,000 people. The England average is higher, with 1,143.5 requests per 100,000 people. This suggests that fewer working-age people in Halton are asking for care compared to other areas. It might be that people are not aware of the services, or they might be receiving help in other ways.
In the same year, 945 people aged 18 to 64 in Halton received care. This is 729.2 people per 100,000, which is higher than the England average of 532.7 per 100,000. This means that more people in this age group are receiving care in Halton than in other parts of England. Even though fewer people are requesting care, more are getting it. This could mean that services in Halton are good at finding and helping people who need support.
Many people in Halton receive care in different ways. Some get help in nursing homes, some in residential homes, and many get support in the community.
For nursing care, 20 people in Halton received this service, which is 15.4 people per 100,000. The England average is similar at 13.8 per 100,000.
In residential care, 55 people in Halton received help. This is 42.4 people per 100,000, while the England average is higher at 60.6 per 100,000. So, fewer people in Halton are in residential care compared to the national average.
Many people in Halton receive community care with direct payments. There are 290 people in this group, which is 223.8 per 100,000. This is higher than the England average of 122.2 per 100,000. This shows that people in Halton prefer to receive care in their own homes and manage their own support.
Other forms of community care in Halton also have higher rates than the national average. This means that services in Halton are supporting people to live independently.
Halton has a population of around 129,587 people in 2023. The area is more urban, with only 3.6% rural, compared to the England average of 34.6% rural. The population density is 1,624.3 people per square kilometre, which is lower than the England average of 2,468.5.
Halton is more deprived than many other areas. The mean deprivation decile is 3.8, while the England average is 5.9. A lower decile means more deprivation. This higher level of deprivation can be linked to higher rates of disability. People in deprived areas may have more health problems and need more support.
The higher proportion of disabled people in Halton means that there is a greater need for care services. Even though fewer working-age people are requesting care, more are receiving it. This could mean that services are proactive in reaching out to those in need.
The preference for community-based care suggests that people in Halton wish to stay in their homes while receiving support. Care providers should focus on offering services that allow people to live independently. This can improve quality of life and may be more cost-effective.
Given the higher levels of deprivation, there may be more challenges in accessing care. Services need to be accessible and affordable to meet the needs of the population. Ensuring that people know about the support available is important.
Halton has a higher rate of disability than the national average. Care services are being used more by people aged 18 to 64, especially in community settings. This highlights the importance of providing community care and support in Halton. Service providers and policymakers should focus on these areas to ensure that the needs of disabled people are met.
✨ ✅ ❌Older People
Just like with Working Age people, knowing how many older people are requesting social care, how many people are recieving care and what percent of the population is 65+ helps understand need and social care provision at a top level.
Jamaican female, blind and in her 40s. She was in an emergency Bed & Breakfast with her Niece, who acts as her unofficial carer, she is unable to work but would like to go to University. She is receiving PIP but not the Daily Living Allowance which she applied for in June 2021. She is vulnerable and has a history of self harm so was assigned a rehab Support Worker. Vanessa supported her using the Chatbot to chase up her PIP Daily Living allowance application, after waiting for several months and they received a reply within a week but was awarded the lower rate.
Another Chatbot letter was sent to request an urgent assessment due to her vulnerability and this was action quickly by the LA. Vanessa also supported her to use the chatbot and ask the Social worker to be moved to a place that supports her needs and rights. As she was having to use a shared bathroom, toilet and kitchen in a place with drug/alcohol abusers and being blind with no carer, this left her vulnerable. The Chatbot was used again to raise this issue and after a few weeks she was successfully moved to a private property in another area.
This case study is based on real data from Croydon. Have a story to tell? Let us know, and we might display it here!
As above, it is important to see what type of care older people are being provided because it can help explain where additional work is needed.
ASCFR and SALT Data Tables 2023-24 Sheet T34
This report examines the situation of older people in Halton, focusing on data about their proportion, requests for care, and services received. Comparisons are made with national averages to understand the context and implications for services and policies.
Halton's population increased slightly from 128,456 in 2019 to 129,587 in 2023, which is smaller than the England average of about 377,061 in 2023. The population density was 1,624.3 people per square kilometre in 2021, less than the England mean of 2,468.5.
With only 3.6% rural areas in 2011, Halton is less rural than the national average of 34.6%. Halton is more deprived, with a mean deprivation decile of 3.8 in 2019, compared to England's 5.9. This indicates that many areas in Halton face higher levels of deprivation.
The proportion of older people in Halton rose from 18.235% in 2019 to 19.1586% in 2023, showing a steady increase over the years. In 2023, Halton's proportion was higher than the England mean of 18.5%. An ageing population may lead to higher demand for services for older people.
In 2024, there were 2,135 requests for care from people aged 65 and over in Halton, which is 1,647.54 per 100,000 people. The national mean per 100,000 is 2,437.85, so Halton has fewer requests per capita than the national average. This might suggest unmet needs or barriers to accessing services.
In 2024, 1,760 older people were receiving care in Halton, which is 1,358.16 per 100,000 people. This is higher than the national mean of 1,002.86 per 100,000. This indicates that a higher proportion of older people in Halton receive care compared to the national average.
More older people receive nursing care (216.07 per 100,000) and residential care (316.39 per 100,000) in Halton than nationally (121.75 and 249.93 per 100,000 respectively). This may reflect higher needs or good service provision in Halton.
In 2025, requests for help in Halton per 100,000 were higher than national averages in areas like assessments (3.09 vs 1.72), care plans (1.54 vs 1.39), direct payments (0.77 vs 0.49), legal issues (0.77 vs 0.68), and mental capacity (3.09 vs 0.59). This suggests specific needs in these areas.
Halton's ageing population and higher use of care services indicate growing demand. The lower requests for care per capita might mean some needs are unmet or barriers exist in accessing services. Higher deprivation levels may contribute to increased need for care.
Services may need to focus on accessibility and addressing specific support areas like assessments and mental capacity. Policies should aim to support older residents and ensure adequate resources are available. Investing in services for older people will help meet the needs of an ageing population in Halton.
✨ ✅ ❌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, Halton had about 13,700 unpaid carers. This means there were 10,680 unpaid carers for every 100,000 people in Halton. This number is higher than the national average of 8,203 unpaid carers per 100,000 people in England. The higher number of carers in Halton may be due to local factors. Halton has more areas of deprivation, with a mean deprivation decile of 3.8 compared to the national mean of 5.9. This means more people might need to care for family or friends without pay.
In 2024, 28.1% of carers in Halton said they had as much social contact as they wanted. This is slightly less than the national average of 29.3%. Carers in Halton might feel more isolated because of their caring duties. They may have less time to spend with others or join social activities. Providing more support could help carers have more social contact.
Halton offers direct payments to carers at a rate of 397 per 100,000 people. This is much higher than the national average of 150 per 100,000 people. Direct payments allow carers to arrange their own support, which can help meet their specific needs. However, Halton provides information and advice services at a rate of 58 per 100,000 people, which is lower than the national average of 339 per 100,000 people. Despite this, 66.2% of carers in Halton find it easy to get information about services, compared to 59.3% nationally. This suggests that even though there are fewer information services, they are effective and accessible to carers.
The higher number of unpaid carers in Halton indicates a need for more support. Carers may benefit from more social opportunities and respite services to help reduce isolation. The emphasis on direct payments reflects the financial challenges carers face, especially in areas with higher deprivation. Continuing to provide financial support is important to help carers manage their responsibilities.
Halton's success in making information about services easy to find is a positive aspect. Maintaining clear and accessible information helps carers know what support is available. Even with fewer information services, effective communication can meet carers' needs without requiring more resources.
Carers in Halton play a vital role but may face challenges like reduced social contact and financial pressures. The higher provision of direct payments and accessible information services helps support them. Focusing on increasing social support and respite care can further improve carers' well-being. Given the higher levels of deprivation, supporting carers remains important for the community.
✨ ✅ ❌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
This analysis examines care providers in Halton, focusing on key measures compared to national averages. Halton faces unique challenges that affect care services, including a smaller population and higher levels of deprivation.
In 2024, Halton has 11 community-based adult social care services. The national average is 63.8 providers. Halton also has 23 residential social care providers, while the national average is 91. With a population of about 129,587 in 2023, Halton has approximately 8.5 community-based providers and 17.8 residential providers per 100,000 people. These figures are lower than national averages but reflect Halton's smaller population size.
A concern is the proportion of care providers needing improvement or rated inadequate. In Halton, 26.47% of care providers fall into this category in 2024, compared to the national average of 16.8%. This means over a quarter of care services in Halton may not meet expected standards, affecting the quality of care for residents.
Staffing is a significant issue for care providers in Halton. The turnover rate in 2023/24 is 25.43%, similar to the regional average of 25.4%. However, the vacancy rate is 11.11%, higher than the national average of 8.4%. High vacancy rates mean many positions remain unfilled, placing strain on existing staff and potentially affecting care quality.
Furthermore, 81.34% of providers report that recruiting staff is more challenging or much more challenging, slightly higher than the regional average of 79.8%. Also, 69.5% find retaining staff more challenging, compared to 68.1% regionally. These staffing difficulties may contribute to the higher proportion of underperforming care providers in Halton.
Halton experiences higher levels of deprivation than the national average. The mean deprivation decile in 2019 is 3.8, while the England average is 5.9. A lower decile indicates higher deprivation. The mean deprivation rank for Halton is 10,692.78, compared to the national average of 17,686.4. High deprivation can increase demand for care services and make it harder to attract and retain staff, adding to the challenges faced by care providers.
Care providers in Halton face several challenges. A higher proportion of services need improvement or are inadequate, which may impact the well-being of residents. Staffing issues, including high vacancy rates and difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff, are significant concerns. These problems are likely linked to the higher levels of deprivation in Halton, which can strain resources and increase demand for care.
Addressing these challenges may require targeted efforts to improve staffing, such as offering incentives for care workers. Enhancing support for care providers and allocating resources to areas most in need can help improve the quality of care. By focusing on these areas, Halton can work towards providing better care services for its 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.
Halton is a local authority with a population of 129,587 people in 2023. It is less densely populated than the England average, with 1,624.3 residents per square kilometre compared to 2,468.5. Halton has higher levels of deprivation, with a mean deprivation decile of 3.8, while the England average is 5.9. This means Halton faces more social and economic challenges.
In November 2024, 97.56% of discharges in Halton were from acceptable trusts. This is higher than the national average of 89%. This suggests that most patients in Halton are discharged from hospitals that meet good standards. Fewer patients are experiencing problems when leaving hospital.
The percentage of discharges that were delayed in Halton was 9.69%, lower than the national average of 12.3%. This means fewer patients had to wait longer than expected to leave hospital. However, the average delay for those who were delayed was 1.07 days, which is higher than the national average of 0.7 days. This means that when delays happen, they last longer in Halton. This could be due to factors like arranging community care or transport.
In 2024, 68.7% of people in Halton said they were satisfied with their care and support. This is higher than the national average of 64.7%. This shows that most people feel positive about the services they receive. Feeling satisfied can lead to better health outcomes and trust in services.
However, another survey by NatCen reported that 57% of people were dissatisfied with social care. This difference suggests that some people may have concerns about the quality or availability of services. It is important to understand why some people are unhappy so that services can improve.
About 70.2% of people using services in Halton felt it was easy to find information about services. This is slightly higher than the England average of 68.2%. Easy access to information helps people make better choices and find the help they need quickly.
In 2024, there were 3.86 complaints received by the ombudsman per 100,000 people in Halton. This is lower than the national average of 4.45 per 100,000. The number of complaints decided was 1.54 per 100,000, also lower than the England average of 4.12 per 100,000. Fewer complaints might mean that people are more satisfied with services, or it could mean they are less likely to make a complaint. It is important that people feel able to raise concerns when needed.
Halton's higher levels of deprivation can increase the demand for health and social care services. Despite this, the area shows good performance in several areas. High satisfaction and better access to information suggest that services are meeting people's needs. Lower rates of delayed discharges show that hospitals and community services are working well together.
However, the longer delays when they do happen indicate there is room for improvement. Services might need to focus on the reasons for these delays, like arranging care packages or transport. Addressing these issues can help reduce the length of delays.
Halton is performing well in many aspects of health and social care quality. Most people are satisfied with their care, and access to information is good. While there are fewer delayed discharges, the ones that do occur last longer. Understanding and addressing these issues can help improve services further.
Considering the higher levels of deprivation, it is important for Halton to continue focusing on supporting those in need. By building on the strengths shown in the data, services can continue to improve the quality of care for everyone in the area.
✨ ✅ ❌We need to understand how much money is being spent on social care, and what this provides. First, let’s look at values reported by local authorities.
Gross Current Expenditure (2023-24) captures the total operational cost of services, indicating overall demand and financial commitment. This includes spending on residential and non-residential care, direct payments, and other social care services. Understanding gross expenditure helps assess the scale of social care provision and financial pressures on local authorities.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
This figure reflects the net cost of social care provision to the local authority, indicating the extent of financial support required to meet service demands. Understanding net expenditure helps assess the financial sustainability of social care services and the commitment level of the local authority.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Client Contributions, otherwise known as “Charging”, show the extent to which service users offset costs. Understanding client contributions helps assess the financial burden on individuals and the local authority, highlighting the need for fair and equitable funding mechanisms.
It is important to note that not all local authorities charge for social care services, and that charging can be a barrier to accessing care for some individuals.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Income from NHS reflects external funding and collaboration with the health sector. Understanding NHS contributions helps understand the level of integration between health and social care.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Budget Cuts indicate financial constraints and potential service reductions. Sometimes, budget cuts are explicit, but other times, they aren’t mentioned directly, making tracking this information difficult to access.
As such, this data is not consistently available for all local authorities.
Access Social Care have made a series of Freedom of Information requests about the government’s own assessment of sufficiency of social care funding. The social care sector is in crisis, yet the government refuses to disclose how it determines funding sufficiency. Without transparency, there is little accountability, no independent scrutiny to improve decision-making, and government trust heavily impacted. Evidence from across the sector indicates a severe funding gap, but without open data, meaningful reform remains impossible. True solutions require honesty about the scale of the problem to then work towards a fair and equitable funding model.
The government appears to know how much money is required for social care, and yet they are not making that known.
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In 2024, Halton's gross total expenditure on social care per 100,000 people was £63,733.46. This is notably higher than the England average of £47,758.16 per 100,000 people. This suggests that Halton invests more in social care compared to other areas.
The net total expenditure per 100,000 people in Halton was £52,796.40, while the national average was £40,471.81 per 100,000 people. This indicates that after accounting for income, Halton's spending remains higher than the average.
Client contributions in Halton were £10,937.05 per 100,000 people, compared to the national average of £7,286.35 per 100,000 people. This means that people in Halton pay more towards their social care services than in other areas.
NHS contributions to social care in Halton were £11,717.22 per 100,000 people, higher than the England average of £7,878.45 per 100,000 people. This shows greater NHS involvement in funding social care in Halton.
Halton has a population of around 129,587 people in 2023, which is smaller than the England average of 377,060.9. The population density in Halton is 1,624.3 people per square kilometre, lower than the England average of 2,468.5 people per square kilometre.
The mean deprivation decile in Halton is 3.8, which is below the England mean of 5.9. A lower decile indicates higher levels of deprivation. This suggests that Halton is more deprived than the average area in England. The standard deviation of deprivation deciles is 2.86, higher than the national average of 2.3, indicating a wider spread of deprivation levels within Halton.
Only 3.62% of Halton is rural, compared to the England average of 34.6%. This means Halton is mostly urban.
The higher spending on social care in Halton could be due to its higher levels of deprivation. Areas with more deprivation often have greater need for social care services. The higher client contributions may reflect a higher demand for services or a policy approach in Halton where clients contribute more.
The greater NHS contributions might indicate closer collaboration between social care and health services in Halton. This could help address increased health and social care needs in the area.
The smaller population size and lower density might affect the cost of delivering services. Providing services in areas with fewer people can be more expensive per person. However, Halton's urban nature could offset some of these costs.
The data suggests that Halton faces significant social care demands due to deprivation. Higher spending may be necessary to meet the needs of its population. Policy makers might consider these factors when allocating resources.
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