Local Government Association Economic Downturn Project
Project timetable:  March to October 2009

During the recent economic slowdown, the Local Government Association (LGA), in partnership with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), became aware that Local Authorities were reporting impacts across the whole system of social care and support.  Anecdotal evidence was supported by reports, such as the IDeA/LGA/SOLACE ‘Survey of the Impact of the Economic Slowdown on Local Authorities 2008’.
 
The aim of this research was to elicit more detailed information about the impact of the slowdown on social care from a small number of local authorities and provider organisations.  The research was undertaken through telephone interviews with a small number of social care staff and provider organisations.  In addition to the interviews, the local authorities involved were asked to post an online survey on their website, so that additional provider organisations had the opportunity to comment.  Alongside the local analysis, some broader analysis of emerging relevant literature was undertaken, together with interviews with a small number of national provider organisations.
 
The research aimed to explore all effects of the economic downturn on social care, both positive and negative, including:
  • providers of adult social care and support (care homes, providers of domiciliary and day care, third sector providers)
  • councils directly (for example, increased costs as more people requiring publicly-funded social care, or decreased income from social care charges)
  • councils indirectly (such as changes in the availability of resources to partners - like third sector organisations or health partners - which may then impact on authorities)
  • individuals (for example, dropping house prices bringing more people into public-funded social care, or disabled people less likely to find employment).

Once the fieldwork was completed, the results were validated with a wider network of authorities.  The findings were then anonymised and made available in a report, which was published in March 2010.  Click here to read the report.