Six hundred people a day are joining growing waiting lists to be assessed for care and support in England, according to a survey from the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS).
The survey shows that almost 300,000 people are now waiting for an assessment of their needs by social workers, an increase of 90,000 (44%) in five months. One in four has been waiting longer than six months.
ADASS said that, at this rate of increase, the number waiting will reach 400,000 by November – double the figure in November 2021.
Sarah McClinton, ADASS president, said that people in need of support were being left in “uncertainty, dependency and pain”, with a rapid deterioration in the situation. “These new findings confirm our worst fears for adult social care,” she said.
ADASS chief executive, Cathie Williams, added: “Contrary to claims, social care is not being fixed and we need decisive action and funding now to get us through the months ahead and to start to build the foundations of the reformed system that we all want to see.”
In total, 542,000 people were awaiting assessment, review or the start of a service or direct payment – an increase of 37% on the figure in November 2021.
The results are based on responses from ADASS members in 83 councils across England.
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