Further Evidence of Crisis with Sleep In Arrangements
Government sleepwalked into sleep-in crisis.
Yesterday MENCAP announced that they may have to withdraw from providing support for more than 2000 adults with learning disabilities unless the row over back pay is settled. The debate around funding the future of social care often focuses on older adults and their associated medical needs, especially when we face a growing ageing population, but a large chunk of the social care spend – estimated at £8bn by the National Audit Office - goes on supporting adults with learning disabilities to live independently. This could be in the form of 24-hour care with large staff team in their own homes or it could be several hours a day with shared support at night for adults living in shared accommodation or flats. Either way, this support usually includes a night time element and this is where MENCAP - and many other smaller providers - are having a problem.