This page provides an overview of social care in Hampshire, 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: Basingstoke and Deane, East Hampshire, Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport, Hart, Havant, New Forest, Rushmoor, Test Valley, Winchester
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: Basingstoke and Deane, East Hampshire, Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport, Hart, Havant, New Forest, Rushmoor, Test Valley, Winchester
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 Hampshire. 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 Hampshire, the proportion of people with disabilities is 15.94%, which is lower than the national average of 17.6%. This suggests that Hampshire has fewer people with disabilities compared to the rest of the country.
Despite having a lower proportion of people with disabilities, Hampshire has a higher rate of requests for care among working-age adults. In 2024, there were 20,755 requests for care, which is 1,452.86 per 100,000 people. This is higher than the national average of 1,143.48 per 100,000 people. This may mean that people in Hampshire are more likely to seek help or that services are more accessible.
In 2024, 6,345 people aged 18 to 64 in Hampshire received care. This is 444.15 per 100,000 people, which is lower than the national average of 532.68 per 100,000 people. This could suggest that even though more people request care, fewer receive it. There may be gaps in service provision or higher levels of unmet need.
Different types of care are provided in Hampshire. For nursing care, 165 people received it, which is 11.55 per 100,000 people, slightly lower than the national average of 13.75 per 100,000. Residential care was provided to 850 people (59.50 per 100,000), close to the national average of 60.61 per 100,000.
Community care with direct payment only was given to 1,430 people (100.10 per 100,000), lower than the national average of 122.17 per 100,000. Community care with part direct payment was provided to 225 people (15.75 per 100,000), much lower than the national average of 47.95 per 100,000. Community care with council-managed personal budgets was given to 2,495 people (174.65 per 100,000), also lower than the national average of 266.67 per 100,000.
Hampshire's population has been growing, reaching 1,428,559 in 2023. The population density is 380.8 people per square kilometre, much lower than the England average of 2,468.5. This means that Hampshire is less densely populated.
The mean deprivation decile in Hampshire is 7.36, higher than the England average of 5.9. This indicates that Hampshire is less deprived. Lower deprivation may contribute to lower disability rates and affect the demand for services.
The data suggests that while Hampshire has lower disability rates, there is higher demand for care among working-age adults. This may point to good awareness of services or better access. However, fewer people receive care compared to the number of requests. This could indicate a need for more resources or better service provision to meet demand.
Overall, understanding these patterns is important for planning services and allocating resources. Considering the growing population and changing needs, Hampshire may need to adjust its services to ensure that people with disabilities receive the care 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
Between 2019 and 2023, the proportion of older people in Hampshire has grown. In 2019, 21.5% of the population were older people. By 2023, this increased to 22.28%. This means that more than one in five people in Hampshire are older.
Nationally, the average proportion of older people is lower. In 2019, it was 18.4%, and in 2023, it was 18.5%. Hampshire has a higher proportion of older people than the national average. This could be because Hampshire is a popular place for people to retire. It might also mean that younger people are moving away for work or study.
In 2024, there were 57,360 requests for care from people aged 65 and over in Hampshire. This is a high number. When we look at the rate per 100,000 people, it is 4,015.23. The national average is 2,437.85 per 100,000 people. This shows that more older people in Hampshire are asking for care compared to the rest of the country.
This could mean that the older population in Hampshire has more needs. It might also show that people in Hampshire are more aware of the care services available. The high number of requests may put pressure on local care services.
In 2024, 12,995 older people in Hampshire were receiving care. This is 909.66 people per 100,000. The national average is higher, at 1,002.86 per 100,000. This means that, even though more older people in Hampshire are asking for care, fewer are receiving it compared to the national average.
Looking at different types of care, 2,535 older people were in nursing care. This is 177.45 per 100,000 people, which is higher than the national average of 121.75. This suggests that nursing care is more common in Hampshire.
For residential care, 3,080 older people in Hampshire were receiving this service. This is 215.6 per 100,000 people, which is lower than the national average of 249.93. Fewer older people in Hampshire are in residential care compared to the rest of the country.
Community care includes services like direct payments and personal budgets. In Hampshire, the rates for these services are lower than the national averages. This might mean that there is less use of community care services in Hampshire.
Hampshire's population has been growing. In 2019, it was 1,384,378 people. By 2023, it increased to 1,428,559 people. The population density is 380.8 people per square kilometre. This is lower than the national average of 2,468.5 people per square kilometre.
The deprivation index shows that Hampshire is less deprived. In 2019, the mean deprivation decile was 7.36. The national mean is 5.9. A higher decile means less deprivation. This suggests that people in Hampshire might have better living conditions.
About 28% of Hampshire is rural. This is less than the national average of 34.6%. Rural areas can have fewer services. This might affect how older people access care in Hampshire.
Hampshire has a growing number of older people. More are asking for care, but fewer are receiving it compared to the national average. This could mean that care services need more resources. Planning is important to meet the needs of the older population.
The high number of requests for care shows that demand is strong. Services may need to expand to keep up. Because Hampshire is less deprived, some older people might pay for private care. This could affect the number using public services.
Care providers should consider these factors. Policies might focus on increasing community care services. This could help more older people stay in their homes. Resources may need to be directed to areas with higher demand.
✨ ✅ ❌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
Hampshire has many unpaid carers who look after family members or friends. In 2021, there were about 7,947 unpaid carers for every 100,000 people in Hampshire. This is a bit less than the national average of 8,204 unpaid carers per 100,000 people. This might mean that fewer people in Hampshire take on unpaid caring roles, or it could reflect differences in the population.
In 2024, only 15.3% of carers in Hampshire said they had as much social contact as they wanted. Across England, 29.3% of carers felt this way. This shows that carers in Hampshire may feel more alone or isolated. One reason could be that Hampshire is less crowded than other places, with about 381 people per square kilometre compared to the national average of 2,469. This lower population density might make it harder for carers to meet others and get support.
When looking at the support carers receive, Hampshire seems to focus on certain types. In 2024, about 521 carers per 100,000 people received information and advice services. This is higher than the national average of 339 per 100,000 people. This suggests that Hampshire puts effort into providing carers with information and signposting to services.
However, fewer carers in Hampshire received direct payments. Only about 22 carers per 100,000 people got direct payments, much less than the national average of 150 per 100,000 people. Direct payments allow carers to arrange their own support, so fewer direct payments might mean carers have less control over the help they get.
More carers in Hampshire received respite care or other support given to the person they care for. About 247 carers per 100,000 people got this kind of support, compared to the national average of 70 per 100,000 people. This means Hampshire provides more breaks for carers, which can help reduce stress and burnout.
Despite the challenges, 59.5% of carers in Hampshire felt it was easy to find information about services in 2024. This is similar to the national average of 59.3%. This shows that information is accessible, but it might not be enough to meet all carers' needs.
Hampshire is less deprived than other areas, with a mean deprivation decile of around 7 to 9, while the national average is 5.9. This means Hampshire is generally better off financially. Even so, carers still face difficulties, especially with social contact. This suggests that financial factors are not the only issues affecting carers' well-being.
The fact that many carers feel isolated points to a need for more social support. Services could focus on creating community groups or events where carers can meet and share experiences. With more people living in rural areas, it might be helpful to have local meetings or transport services to bring carers together.
In conclusion, while Hampshire provides good information and respite services to carers, many still feel they lack social contact. By understanding these needs, Hampshire can plan better services to support carers' well-being.
✨ ✅ ❌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
The county of Hampshire has a growing population. In 2023, it reached 1,428,559 people, much higher than the England average of 377,060.9. Despite this large population, Hampshire has a lower population density, with 380.8 people per square kilometre compared to the England average of 2,468.5. This means Hampshire is less crowded, with more rural areas.
In 2024, Hampshire had 238 community-based adult social care providers and 440 residential social care providers. These numbers are much higher than the national averages of 63.8 and 91. Having more providers may help meet the needs of Hampshire's larger population. The higher number of care providers suggests that services are more available to residents.
About 14.95% of care providers in Hampshire were rated as needing improvement or inadequate in 2024. This is lower than the national average of 16.8%. A smaller proportion indicates that the quality of care providers in Hampshire is generally better. However, there is still room to improve so that all providers offer high-quality care.
Staff turnover and vacancies are important issues in social care. In Hampshire, the turnover rate was 26.65% in 2023/24, close to the national average of 26.7%. The vacancy rate was 8.49%, similar to the national average of 8.4%. These figures show that Hampshire faces the same staffing challenges as other regions.
Moreover, 72.39% of care providers in Hampshire found it more challenging or much more challenging to retain staff in 2024, higher than the national average of 68.1%. Also, 82.90% found it more challenging or much more challenging to recruit staff, compared to 79.8% nationally. This means that most providers are struggling with staffing issues, which could affect the quality and availability of care.
Hampshire has a higher mean deprivation decile of around 7 to 8, whereas the England mean is 5.9. A higher decile means less deprivation. This suggests that Hampshire is generally less deprived than other areas. However, there are differences within the county, with some places being more deprived than others.
The percentage of rural areas in Hampshire varies. Some parts have up to 67.82% rural areas, while others have none. On average, about 28.17% of Hampshire is rural, which is below the England average of 34.6%. Rural areas can face challenges such as access to services and transport. This might affect how care is provided in these communities.
Hampshire has more care providers than the national average, which may help meet the needs of its large population. The quality of care is slightly better, with fewer providers needing improvement. However, staffing remains a significant challenge. High turnover and vacancy rates, along with difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff, could impact care services.
Considering the lower levels of deprivation and the mix of rural and urban areas, it is important to support care providers across Hampshire. Addressing staffing issues is key to ensuring that all residents have access to reliable and high-quality care services.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
This report examines the quality improvement measures in Hampshire, focusing on key indicators compared to national averages. We explore delayed discharges, service satisfaction, ease of finding information, and Ombudsman cases to understand the current state of services in Hampshire.
In November 2024, Hampshire had 96.74% of discharges from acceptable trusts, higher than the national average of 89%. This suggests that most patients in Hampshire are discharged from trusts that meet acceptable standards, indicating good quality in hospital care.
However, the percentage of discharges that were delayed in Hampshire was 18.69%, compared to the national average of 12.3%. This higher rate of delays may point to challenges in the discharge process, such as coordination between hospital and social care services. The average delay per discharge in Hampshire was 1.12 days, above the national average of 0.7 days, highlighting this issue further.
In 2024, 71.5% of respondents in Hampshire said they were satisfied with their care and support, higher than the national average of 64.7%. This indicates that people in Hampshire generally feel positive about the services they receive. However, another source reported that 57% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with social care. This suggests that while many are satisfied, there is still a significant number of people who are not. Factors like staffing levels, funding, or increased demand could be affecting satisfaction.
About 69.8% of people using services in Hampshire found it easy to find information about services, slightly above the national average of 68.2%. This means that most people can access the information they need, which is important for getting support when required.
The number of cases received by the Ombudsman in Hampshire was 2.66 per 100,000 people, lower than the national average of 4.45. Similarly, 2.45 cases per 100,000 were decided in Hampshire, compared to 4.12 nationally. This suggests fewer complaints or disputes in Hampshire, which may reflect higher satisfaction or effective local resolution of issues.
Hampshire's population has been growing, reaching 1,428,559 in 2023, much larger than the England average of around 377,061. The population density is 380.8 residents per square kilometre, lower than the national average of 2,468.5. This lower density means services have to cover larger areas, which might contribute to delays or difficulties in coordination.
The mean deprivation decile in Hampshire is around 7.36 to 9.39, higher than the England average of 5.9. A higher decile indicates less deprivation, suggesting that Hampshire is generally better off than other areas. This could positively affect service satisfaction, as less deprived areas often have better resources.
The higher rate of delayed discharges in Hampshire, despite having a high percentage of acceptable trusts, points to possible issues in moving patients from hospital to home or other care settings. The growing population and lower density may strain resources, as services need to reach people spread over a wider area. Staffing shortages or increased demand might also contribute to delays and dissatisfaction among some service users.
While overall satisfaction is high, the significant number of dissatisfied people highlights areas for improvement. Focusing on reducing delays and improving coordination between services could enhance satisfaction further. Ensuring that information about services remains accessible is also important for helping people get the support they need.
The lower number of Ombudsman cases suggests that many issues are resolved locally or that there are fewer serious problems. Continuing to address concerns promptly can help maintain this positive trend.
Hampshire shows strengths in the quality of its trusts and overall satisfaction with care and support. However, challenges like delayed discharges and some dissatisfaction remain. By considering the effects of population growth and the demands of serving a less densely populated area, Hampshire can focus on improvements. Addressing these issues can enhance the quality of services and support for all residents.
✨ ✅ ❌We need to understand how much money is being spent on social care, and what this provides. First, let’s look at values reported by local authorities.
Gross Current Expenditure (2023-24) captures the total operational cost of services, indicating overall demand and financial commitment. This includes spending on residential and non-residential care, direct payments, and other social care services. Understanding gross expenditure helps assess the scale of social care provision and financial pressures on local authorities.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
This figure reflects the net cost of social care provision to the local authority, indicating the extent of financial support required to meet service demands. Understanding net expenditure helps assess the financial sustainability of social care services and the commitment level of the local authority.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Client Contributions, otherwise known as “Charging”, show the extent to which service users offset costs. Understanding client contributions helps assess the financial burden on individuals and the local authority, highlighting the need for fair and equitable funding mechanisms.
It is important to note that not all local authorities charge for social care services, and that charging can be a barrier to accessing care for some individuals.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Income from NHS reflects external funding and collaboration with the health sector. Understanding NHS contributions helps understand the level of integration between health and social care.
ASCFR/SALT Sheet T3
Budget Cuts indicate financial constraints and potential service reductions. Sometimes, budget cuts are explicit, but other times, they aren’t mentioned directly, making tracking this information difficult to access.
As such, this data is not consistently available for all local authorities.
Access Social Care have made a series of Freedom of Information requests about the government’s own assessment of sufficiency of social care funding. The social care sector is in crisis, yet the government refuses to disclose how it determines funding sufficiency. Without transparency, there is little accountability, no independent scrutiny to improve decision-making, and government trust heavily impacted. Evidence from across the sector indicates a severe funding gap, but without open data, meaningful reform remains impossible. True solutions require honesty about the scale of the problem to then work towards a fair and equitable funding model.
The government appears to know how much money is required for social care, and yet they are not making that known.
✨ ✅ ❌?
In 2024, Hampshire spent £46,760.55 per 100,000 people on social care. This amount is slightly less than the England average of £47,758.16 per 100,000 people. This means that Hampshire's spending on social care per person is a bit lower than in other parts of the country.
One reason for this could be Hampshire's lower level of deprivation. In 2019, Hampshire had a mean deprivation decile of around 8. The average in England is 5.9. A higher decile means less deprivation. So, people in Hampshire may have less need for social care services.
The NHS contributes £4,251.21 per 100,000 people to social care in Hampshire. This is much less than the England average of £7,878.45 per 100,000 people. Lower NHS contributions could mean that local social care services receive less support from the NHS.
Client contributions in Hampshire are £6,868.39 per 100,000 people. The England average is £7,286.35 per 100,000 people. This means that people who use social care services in Hampshire pay a bit less than those in other areas.
Hampshire has a growing population. In 2023, it had 1,428,559 people, which is much larger than the average local authority in England. The population density is 380.8 people per square kilometre, lower than the England average of 2,468.5 people per square kilometre. This means Hampshire is less crowded, which could affect the demand for social care services.
About 28% of Hampshire is rural. Rural areas might face challenges in accessing social care services due to distance and transport. However, the lower population density may also mean fewer people need services at the same time.
The slightly lower spending on social care in Hampshire could be due to several factors. The lower level of deprivation suggests that fewer people may need support. The lower NHS contributions indicate that local services might rely more on other sources of funding.
Since client contributions are also slightly lower, people in Hampshire may either have less need for services or may face fewer charges for them. The combination of these factors could explain why overall spending per person is less than the national average.
It is important to ensure that social care services in Hampshire meet the needs of the population. Even though spending per person is a bit lower, services must still be accessible and of good quality. The challenges of serving a rural and less dense population should be considered.
Policy makers should look at the lower NHS contributions and consider if more support is needed from the NHS. Ensuring adequate funding can help provide better services to those who need them.
Hampshire spends slightly less on social care per person than the national average. This may be due to lower levels of deprivation, a larger and less dense population, and lower NHS contributions. Understanding these factors can help improve social care services in Hampshire.
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