This page provides an overview of social care in Worcestershire, 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: Bromsgrove, Malvern Hills, Redditch, Worcester, Wychavon, Wyre Forest
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: Bromsgrove, Malvern Hills, Redditch, Worcester, Wychavon, Wyre Forest
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 Worcestershire. 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
About 17.3 % of residents are disabled after age-standardisation. This is a little below the national rate of 17.6 %. With an estimated 614,000 people living in the county in 2023, roughly 106,000 residents are disabled. The county is largely rural and is less deprived than the England average, factors that often link with better general health. These points help to explain why the disability rate sits slightly under the national norm.
In 2024, 6,925 people aged 18 – 64 asked for social care. That is 1,128 requests for every 100,000 residents, just under the England figure of 1,143 per 100,000. Rural living can make it harder to reach services, so a rate that is only a little lower than average suggests awareness of the offer is fairly good. It may also hint at an older working-age profile, because disability rates rise with age.
Of those who asked for help, 2,935 were getting care at the end of the year. This equals 478 recipients per 100,000 residents, compared with 533 per 100,000 nationally. For every 100 requests in Worcestershire, about 42 lead to a care package, while the national conversion is nearer 47. Part of the gap may come from the county’s lower deprivation; need is often highest in poorer areas. Travel distances and limited public transport may also deter some residents from taking up formal care.
The mix of services shows how people are supported. Community care that the council manages (personal budget or commissioned support) stands at 267 per 100,000, almost identical to the England rate. Community support paid wholly by direct payments is lower than average (99 versus 122 per 100,000). This could reflect personal choice in a rural county, where hiring personal assistants is harder. Residential placements are also below the norm (50 versus 61 per 100,000), suggesting a preference for staying at home when possible. In contrast, nursing placements are fractionally above average, perhaps because residential homes have shifted towards higher-need, nursing-led provision.
Early data for 2025 show only small numbers of disabled people seeking help with assessments, care plans or legal matters. For example, 12 residents asked for legal or complaint support, just 0.2 per 10,000 people. These very low counts may point to good sign-posting and informal networks, but they could equally signal hidden demand if residents are unsure where to go.
Worcestershire’s population density is 347 people per square kilometre, far below the England mean of 2,468. Around 43 % of residents live in rural areas. Delivering home care in such settings costs more time and petrol, while public transport gaps raise reliance on family and friends. At the same time, the county ranks less deprived than average (mean decile 6-8 depending on district). Lower deprivation can delay the onset of disability and gives families more resources to arrange private help, both of which reduce pressure on council services.
The data show moderate but not excessive demand from disabled adults. Maintaining accessibility in rural zones is vital to prevent hidden need. Encouraging growth in the direct-payment workforce and supporting digital advice channels could improve take-up without large building projects. The small but steady use of nursing care suggests attention to complex cases remains important, even in a generally healthy county.
✨ ✅ ❌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 share of residents aged 65 + has risen every year, from 22.6 % in 2019 to 23.3 % in 2023. England stayed almost flat at about 18–19 %. With the total population also climbing to 614,000, Worcestershire now has roughly 143,000 older people. The county is both more rural (347 residents per km² versus 2,469 nationally) and slightly less deprived than average. These factors make it attractive for later-life migration, so the upward curve is likely to continue.
In 2024 there were 19,520 requests for adult social care from people aged 65 +, equal to 3,178 per 100,000. This is one-third higher than the national rate of 2,438. Rural living can make daily tasks harder when health starts to fail, so older residents may contact the council earlier and more often. Loneliness, transport gaps, and limited informal support in dispersed villages may also drive demand.
Despite the high number of enquiries, 5,885 older people were actually receiving long-term care. The rate (958 per 100,000) sits just below the England mean of 1,003. The gap between requests and packages hints that many callers are either sign-posted elsewhere, offered short-term reablement, or assessed as ineligible. While this may reflect good preventive practice, it can also mask unmet need if community services are thin on the ground.
Nursing home use stands out: 162 per 100,000 compared with 122 nationally. By contrast, residential care without nursing is slightly lower than average, and community-based support shows an uneven pattern. Direct payments and managed personal budgets are on a par with England, suggesting that Worcestershire promotes personal choice. Yet only 2.4 per 100,000 receive “council-commissioned support only” in the community, far below the national norm of 137. This sharp shortfall may reflect difficulties in contracting home-care agencies across a wide rural area, leading to earlier placement in nursing beds.
Small 2025 samples on advice show 1.79 information-seeking contacts per 100,000, lower than the 2.6 England rate. Requests about safeguarding and legal issues are also low. Low volumes could mean good local awareness and early resolution, but may also point to hidden concerns that never reach formal channels.
Worcestershire faces steady growth in older residents and a correspondingly high flow of care enquiries. Current practice appears to filter many of these requests, keeping long-term care numbers close to the national norm. However, the tilt towards nursing placements and the very low use of commissioned home support suggest supply problems in the community market. In a largely rural county, boosting flexible domiciliary care and transport links may help people stay independent for longer and reduce costly bed-based care.
• Continue investing in community and reablement services to narrow the gap between demand and care receipt.
• Work with providers to expand home-care coverage in rural districts.
• Monitor the high nursing home rate for signs of avoidable admission.
• Use population forecasts to plan workforce, housing, and digital solutions that fit an ageing, dispersed population.
Addressing these issues now will help Worcestershire support its older residents in a way that is both compassionate and financially sustainable.
✨ ✅ ❌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 an estimated 8,718 unpaid carers lived in Worcestershire for every 100,000 residents. Applying this rate to the mid-2021 population of 604,902 gives roughly 53,000 people who look after a friend or relative without pay. The local prevalence is around six per cent higher than the England average of 8,204 carers per 100,000. Worcestershire is a largely rural county with a population density of 347 residents per km², far below the national figure. Public services are therefore more spread out and family networks often step in, helping to explain why a larger share of residents take on caring roles.
The age and socio-economic profile also matter. Worcestershire is a little less deprived than England overall and contains many villages that attract older households. A bigger older population brings greater demand for informal care, again pushing the carer rate above the national norm.
By 2024, 34.3 per cent of Worcestershire carers said they had as much social contact as they would like, compared with 29.3 per cent nationally. Living in relatively prosperous communities may give carers better access to neighbourhood groups, faith organisations and digital tools that reduce isolation. Nevertheless two-thirds still feel they lack social contact, so loneliness remains common.
The picture is less favourable when carers look for information and advice. Only 58.3 per cent thought it was easy to find the help they needed, slightly below the England average of 59.3 per cent. Long travel distances in rural areas and the complexity of health and care systems may make support hard to navigate, particularly for older carers without internet skills.
Rates of direct support to carers are low. In 2024 just 40 direct payments were made per 100,000 residents, a quarter of the national rate. Personal budgets run by the council, fully commissioned breaks and mixed packages were either absent or so small that data were suppressed. Universal services such as information and advice reached 100 carers per 100,000, but the corresponding national figure is 339. Provision delivered to the cared-for person, such as respite, also trailed the benchmark (46 versus 70 per 100,000). Overall, Worcestershire appears to rely more on informal networks than on formal schemes.
The very small number of cases recorded under the UT1 carers measure in 2025 (three people, 0.49 per 100,000) underlines the limited scale of statutory interventions. The England average is 0.75 per 100,000, so Worcestershire is not an outlier, but the absolute numbers are tiny relative to the estimated 53,000 carers.
The county benefits from a strong culture of informal care and slightly better social connectedness than the national picture, yet formal support is thinly spread. Without accessible respite, advice and personalised budgets, the risk is that carers’ health, employment and finances deteriorate, storing up higher costs for the NHS and adult social care in future. Rurality and an ageing population will intensify this pressure.
Strengthening online and face-to-face information services, expanding direct payments, and developing local respite options that do not require long journeys could all improve the balance between informal and formal help. Continual monitoring of carers’ social contact will show whether these actions succeed in preventing isolation.
Worcestershire depends heavily on unpaid carers; while many cope well socially, they receive less formal support than their peers elsewhere. Targeted investment in accessible, flexible services would protect both carers and the sustainability of the wider care system.
✨ ✅ ❌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 Worcestershire lists 111 community-based adult social care services and 168 residential care services. When set against the county’s mid-2023 population of about 614 000 people, this gives roughly 18 community services and 27 residential homes for every 100 000 residents. Across England the averages are nearer 17 and 24 per 100 000. Worcestershire therefore offers a slightly richer supply of both community and residential provision. The larger absolute totals reflect the size of the county: its population is around 60 % higher than the average local authority. Even after adjusting for population, however, access remains a little better than usual, which may ease waiting times and allow greater choice of setting.
The Care Quality Commission judges 16.1 % of local providers as ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’, marginally below the national figure of 16.8 %. Having more providers has not led to a fall in standards, which suggests that market capacity is being matched by effective local monitoring and support. Worcestershire’s moderate levels of deprivation (mean decile about 6 compared with 5.9 nationally) could also help, as providers may face fewer complex poverty-linked care needs than authorities with higher deprivation.
Staff turnover in 2023/24 stands at 26.7 %, almost identical to the regional mean. Vacancy rates are also in line with the England picture at about 8.4 %. These figures show that Worcestershire has not escaped the national labour pressures in social care. Managers, asked in 2024 about workforce conditions, were slightly more likely than their Midlands peers to say that retaining staff is “more challenging or much more challenging” (70 % versus 68 %) and that recruiting staff is difficult (81 % versus 80 %). Rural geography may be a factor: just under half of the county’s land is classified as rural, and sparse transport links can limit the pool of potential workers. The balance between relatively low deprivation and dispersal of settlements therefore shapes the hiring picture.
Good provider coverage and near-average quality place Worcestershire in a stable position, yet staffing remains a delicate issue. Without continued effort on pay, travel support and career development, current vacancy and turnover rates could rise, especially in the most rural districts where journeys between clients are long and public transport is thin. If workforce gaps widen, the present advantage in provider numbers could be undermined by reduced capacity to deliver safe care.
First, the county may wish to sustain its proactive market-shaping work, as higher provider density appears to coincide with slightly better quality. Second, targeted recruitment schemes—such as mileage allowances or rural “hubs” that limit travel time—could address the specific challenges reported by managers. Third, continuing to share good practice on quality improvement can help ensure that the small proportion of poorly rated services does not grow. Finally, given the older age profile typically found in rural counties, planners should monitor demand closely; a rising older population could quickly absorb the current headroom in supply.
✨ ✅ ❌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.
Worcestershire has about 614,000 people, well above the average English council. Only 347 people live in each square kilometre, far fewer than the national figure of 2,469. Most areas sit in the higher deprivation deciles, so poverty is lower than in many parts of England. This mix of a large, fairly rural and mostly better-off population shapes how adult health and care services work.
Almost every hospital discharge (99.97 per cent) goes to a trust that the council judges “acceptable”, while the national figure is 89 per cent. This suggests strong links between the council, local hospitals and community teams. Only 11.8 per cent of discharges are delayed, a little below the England rate of 12.3 per cent, yet when a delay happens people wait on average 0.87 days compared with 0.7 days nationally. The pattern points to a system that clears most cases quickly but struggles with a small group who need extra support, often more common in rural settings where transport and home-care staff are spread out.
In the 2024 survey 69 per cent of service users said they were satisfied with their care, above the national 64.7 per cent. Satisfaction is likely helped by lower deprivation and by good hospital discharge planning. At the same time a separate NatCen study shows 57 per cent were dissatisfied, underlining that some residents feel services do not meet all needs. Rural isolation, long travel times and limited digital access can make support feel distant even when core quality is sound.
Finding information is almost in line with England: 68.6 per cent of users say it is easy, compared with 68.2 per cent nationally. Given the county’s scattered communities this is positive, yet one in three people still struggle. Strengthening simple, low-tech routes such as printed guides in GP surgeries could help older residents who lack broadband.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman received and decided around 3.26 cases per 100,000 residents, lower than the national rates of 4.45 and 4.12. Fewer complaints may reflect good performance, but it can also mean people do not know how to raise issues. Continued promotion of the complaints process in rural parishes will guard against hidden problems.
Overall quality is strong: safe hospital discharge arrangements, high user satisfaction and low complaint volumes all point to a well-run system. The main risk lies in the small number of cases that face longer waits once a delay starts. Tackling workforce gaps in home care, especially in remote villages, would shorten these waits. Clearer information channels and a visible complaints pathway will ensure that positive headline figures match every individual experience. With a growing population, keeping these standards will need close monitoring and agile use of resources, but the county is starting from a firm base.
✨ ✅ ❌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 Worcestershire spent about £277 million on adult social care. This figure is drawn from a gross spend of £45,061 for every 100,000 residents and a mid-2023 population of 614,185. Net spend, after income from all partners, stood near £237 million, or £38,553 per 100,000 people.
Per head spending is below the national picture. Worcestershire’s gross spend is around six per cent lower than the England mean of £47,758 per 100,000, and the gap is similar for net spend. Lower spending can sometimes reflect lower need. The county is, on average, slightly less deprived than England and this may reduce pressure on some care services. However, need is not only about deprivation. Worcestershire has an older, growing and widely dispersed population. These factors usually push costs up, so the lower out-turn suggests either very lean service models or a risk that some needs are not met.
The resident count has risen steadily from 598,250 in 2019 to 614,185 in 2023. Population density is 347 persons per km², far below the England average of 2,469. Rural settings often increase travel time for staff and make home support more expensive. A flat or falling spend per head in such conditions may place extra strain on providers and on unpaid carers.
Local people and the NHS currently supply smaller shares of the budget than is typical. Client contributions add £6,508 per 100,000 residents, about eleven per cent below the England mean. This could point to lower charging levels, a smaller proportion of wealthier older residents entering the system, or simply fewer people receiving chargeable services. NHS contributions are £6,482 per 100,000, sixteen per cent beneath the national rate. Lower health funding may reflect the pattern of local joint packages or the capacity of integrated care teams. If less health money is coming in, the council must either top up from its own resources or limit what it commissions.
Taking all elements together, Worcestershire spends less per resident than most areas even though it faces the extra costs of a scattered population. Without detailed activity data it is hard to confirm whether the county is delivering the same level of support for less, or whether people are waiting longer or going without help. The council may wish to:
• review demand and waiting lists to check for hidden need;
• examine why NHS money is relatively low and strengthen joint funding agreements; and
• test whether charging policy and financial assessment ensure fair cost recovery while protecting those on low incomes.
Population growth shows no sign of slowing. If spending per head stays flat, real-terms pressure will mount. The absence of clear information on budget cuts adds uncertainty, but it is clear that careful planning and strong partnerships with health services will be needed to sustain care quality in the years to come.
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