The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released figures on Wednesday for adult social care productivity for the financial year ending in 2018 (FY18).
According to the ONS, productivity fell by 0.6%, as inputs – the costs of providing care – rose by 0.4%, and output fell by 0.2%.
Inputs rose for the third successive year, having fallen in each of the years from FY10 to FY15.
Looking back over 20 years, the ONS says productivity was 8.4% lower in FY18 than it was in FY97.
James Lewis, head of health and adult social care efficiency at the ONS, said: “For the latest year, 2017/18, the drop in productivity is driven by a slight fall in the services provided, mainly relating to residential care, despite a small increase in the resources used.”
