National disability charity Sense has responded to yesterday’s Autumn Budget in which an additional £650 million will be made available for social care ahead of the Governments long-awaited Green Paper.

Director of Policy and Communications for Sense, Kate Fitch, said:

“The social care sector is in crisis, and while £650 million is a welcome injection, the funds fall a long way short of what is needed.

There has been a £7bn reduction in adult social care funding since 2010, with an estimated funding gap of £2.5 billion by 2019/20. £650 million represents only a quarter of the money that is needed.

The latest report from the CQC (State of Care) showed that the tipping point has been reached in some areas, with people suffering due to being unable to access good quality care. Research by the Care and Support Alliance showed that more than a quarter (29%) of working-age disabled adults (18-64 year olds) who rely on council funding have had their care cut over the last year despite their care needs staying the same or increasing.

The historic problem of how social care is funded sustainably in this country won’t be solved by a short-term cash injection, that’s just firefighting. What the sector needs is a sustainable funding solution that ensures that people with complex disabilities receive the quality care that they need to live well.

It’s been almost two years since the Green Paper was proposed and its continued delay demonstrates a lack of priority and urgency from government in addressing this.”

About Sense

Sense is a national disability charity that supports people living with complex disabilities, including those who are deafblind, to communicate and experience the world. Sense supports children, young people and adults in their home and in the community, in their education and transition to adulthood and through its holidays, arts, sports and wellbeing programmes. In addition to practical support to families, Sense also offers information advice, short breaks and family events, and campaigns for the rights of people with complex disabilities to take part in life. For more information please visit www.sense.org.uk