THE care sector faces a “long and hard” road to recovery after years of neglect, Unison warned today as research revealed councils do not have enough funding for social care.

A survey by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass) revealed that eight in 10 councils in England are on course to overspend their budget on adult social care by the time the financial year ends in April. 

Adass gathered responses from 131 councils in September and early October.

It found there had been an increase in councils required to make in-year savings, with over a third — or 35 per cent — now facing such demands, compared to just under a fifth — 19 per cent — in 2022.

According to Adass, planned savings for the next financial year are estimated to have soared by £500 million to £1.4 billion.

“In this context, it will be even harder for councils to make the investment needed in workforce, prevention and unpaid carers, all of which are crucial to improving health and social care in the longer term,” a report by the body cautioned.

Unison’s head of care Gavin Edwards said: “The previous government left social care with a staffing crisis and starved councils of the money needed to fund the sector.

“That’s why the road to recovery will be long and hard.”

Labour has promised to establish a fair pay agreement for care professionals, which Mr Edwards described as “essential” to keep skilled staff.

A national care service, also pledged as part of a 10-year plan for reform, would replace the “current profit-driven system,” he said.

Linda Burnip from Disabled People Against Cuts warned that Labour has so far “done nothing” to alleviate the social care crisis.

“If the government is serious about reducing waiting lists in the NHS and freeing up beds then they must urgently find additional funding for social care provision as well as for independent living, allowing disabled people to have greater choice and control over their everyday support,” she said.

Labour has said that it will deliver cash-strapped councils with multiyear-funding settlements, and in last week’s Autumn Budget, the government announced £600m would be granted to councils for adult and children’s social care.

But the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils, warned that rises to the minimum wage and National Insurance are “likely to absorb much of the grant.”

David Fothergill, chairman of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, said: “Immediate investment is needed in order to address unmet and under-met need and ensure timely access to social care for all who need it.”

Birmingham is one of seven councils, including Croydon, Woking, and Nottingham City that have declared themselves bankrupt since 2020.

Kate Taylor from Brum Rise Up, a coalition of groups opposing cuts to the city’s local government, said: “When we started the campaign, one in five councils were due to go bust.

“It’s now one in four.”

She said that the campaign has been working to expose the issue as an “austerity problem,” and called for an “injection of money” to take the pressure off budgets.

“The knock-on of the cost of living crisis that has not been made up for by councils is just another problem that is being passed on to the most vulnerable instead of being managed by those that can afford it,” Ms Taylor said.

Birmingham City Council recently recommended the closure of four out of nine adult day care centres to save £1.95m this year and more than £3m in 2025-26.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the government will “work closely” with the social care sector to build a national care service that will improve the quality of care across the country.