Roundtable discussion: Local authority funding and its impact on the future of social care

Images: Seb Wright Media

For a roundtable event held in July 2024, hosts Hannah Haines (Head of Healthcare Consultancy, Christie & Co), Michâela Deasy (Head of PR & Comms, Compass Carter Osborne) and Lizzie Wills (Senior Partner & Head of Private Equity, GK Strategy) were joined by some of the biggest female names in the UK social care sector.  

The roundtable brought together operators, lawyers, investors and sector experts, all of whom share a passion for quality healthcare and for driving an increased awareness of the challenges faced by operators as a result of funding challenges across the country.  

Below are some of the key highlights from what was discussed around local authority funding and its impact on the future of social care.  

According to the Local Government Information Unit, 50% of local authorities (LAs) have reported that they are likely to be bankrupt in the next five years, with 9% predicting they would be bankrupt in the next 12 months. This is already the case for a number of LAs, including Birmingham. These struggles are not going to be resolved without fundamental reform – of how services are delivered at a local level, or how they are funded.  

To address the funding challenges they are facing, most LAs have identified areas to make direct cost savings. For example, many have confirmed that they will make budget cuts relating to parks and recreational spaces. Although this may not directly impact the social care sector, it could end up affecting the mental health of the communities that rely on these facilities. Meanwhile, 16% of LAs said they are looking to reduce spending in adult social care, 12% in children’s care services, and 10% in SEND, though statutory services will be better protected from funding cuts.  

… For the full article on the Christie & Co website, click here.  

To find out more about the team’s next roundtable event, contact Michâela Deasy: michaela@compasscarterosborne.com