Councils call for focus on working age and lifelong disabled adults in the debate on reforming adult social care

Revealing that councils have seen a dramatic rise in the costs of support for working age adults and those with a lifelong disabled condition, a new report from the County Councils Network, 'The forgotten story of social care: The case for improving outcomes for working age and lifelong disabled adults', details the complexity behind the increased spending, projected to reach £17bn by 2030, and proposes reforms that will focus on prevention, enabling more independence and reducing costs.

The interfaces with housing and health are highlighted as being particularly important and housing is raised as a key issue preventing optimal outcomes, with "inappropriate and insufficient" housing options reducing the independence of individuals in this cohort, as well as leading to increased spending. Offering an evidence base for why new housing solutions for disabled adults should be marked as a priority for national decision-makers, the report also finds a requirement to ensure the inclusion of supported housing options in new housing and planning reforms and local planning targets.