Council calls for more adult social care funding

A councillor responsible for adult social care is calling for a big change in the way it is funded, saying the government needs to "grasp the nettle and get on with it".

Wiltshire Council spends around two-thirds of its budget running social services, with 19% on children's services and 46% on adult social care.

Councillor Gordon King, the cabinet member for adult social care said "there is an old age explosion" and "everyone is living longer".

The government has set up an independent commission to examine the whole social care system and said it is "addressing the adult social care sector's urgent need for support" with billions of additional funding in the years to come.

Increasing numbers of working-age adults are also seeking care from councils.

Last year, Wiltshire Council's adult social care services were rated as "good" by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The authority says it prioritises early prevention to support independence, reduce crisis, and improve long-term outcomes.

It also helps manage costs and demand.

"Prevention is absolutely everything, it's the key to the success of everything," King added.

Paul O'Reilly from Warminster was helped to get back on his feet after being very ill.

When the 83-year-old came out of hospital, the council's reablement team worked closely with him for several weeks.

Now he is fully independent, relishing life in his home and garden.

"I didn't realise how difficult it was going to be until you get in that situation," he said. "They've been amazing, excellent."

This sort of work means people are less reliant on care.

"The purpose of the service is to enable them to get back to living the life they were living," says occupational therapist Zoe Ovens.

"It means that they can have that life they want to live - without that dependence upon long term care," she added.

Earlier this year, the council approved a 2% Adult Social Care levy in its budget to help fund "vital support".

King said: "What we really need is, we need commitment, we need pace.

He added: "Government, are you listening?"

A government spokesperson told the BBC: "We are addressing the adult social care sector's urgent need for support with over £4.6bn additional funding available for adult social care in 2028-29 compared to 2025-26.

"We are committed to building a National Care Service and Baroness Casey's Independent Commission will deliver its phase 1 recommendations this year to address immediate priorities for adult social care."

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