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Lincolnshire Care Crisis: Council Spends 70% of Budget
28 Apr
Summary
- Nearly 70p of every £1 budget goes to adult and children's social care.
- Care homes face rising costs and difficulty securing top-up fees.
- Staff commute challenges highlight growing financial pressures.
Lincolnshire County Council is dedicating a significant portion of its budget to social care, with analysis indicating that 68% of its net budget, equating to £442m, is allocated to adult and children's social care for 2024-25. This substantial investment reflects an increasing dependence on council funding for care services.
Care homes are experiencing heightened operational challenges. For instance, Tanglewood Nursing Home faces rising weekly fees averaging £1,300, which are quickly consumed by expenses. When a resident is council-funded, the home receives approximately £900, necessitating reliance on family top-up fees that are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain due to financial constraints.
Staff in the care sector are also contending with financial pressures. Beyond challenging work conditions and long hours, rising costs for essentials like petrol are impacting their budgets. Some employees are seeking to consolidate their shifts and stay overnight with friends to reduce commuting expenses.
In response to these pressures, Lincolnshire County Council is implementing strategies to strengthen recruitment and retention, redesign services, and improve assessment processes through digital tools. The government has also pledged further financial support for the adult social care sector, with over £4.6bn allocated for 2028-29.
