The forgotten story of social care: The case for improving outcomes for working age and lifelong disabled adults

This report from the County Councils Network and Newton reveals the growing costs of providing care for working age and disabled adults and makes the case for putting this group at the centre of plans for a National Care Service, proposing reforms to the system to focus more on prevention, helping people live more independent lives and to reduce future costs.

Representing Phase 1 of a programme of research, with the second due in 2025, it outlines the evidence base for change, with spending for these individuals forecast to top £17bn by 2030, a 50% increase compared to 2024. In terms of housing, highlighted as a key issue preventing optimal outcomes for this group, the report reveals that rising placement costs are impacted by ‘inappropriate and insufficient’ housing options in local areas for those with lower support needs, with too many working-age and lifelong disabled adults inappropriately placed in expensive residential placements due to a lack of other options, seeing their independence drastically reduced.

The report identifies new housing solutions for disabled adults as a priority for national decision-makers, to help move away from both a reliance on 24-hour residential and nursing placements, and also away from supported living being used due to a lack of alternative housing options. It also finds a requirement to ensure the inclusion of supported housing options in new housing and planning reforms and local planning targets.

The need for updated models of care and whole-system working is also highlighted, with the interfaces with housing and health noted as being particularly important. The report also calls for working age and lifelong disabled people to have a greater say in reforming local services as well as calling on local authorities to better use population data, analytics, market management and best practice to commission services to reduce placement costs.