Local government reorganisation must not come at expense of people who rely on care

Responding to the Government’s announcement on local government reorganisation, ADASS President Jess McGregor said:

“Local government reform must not come at the expense of people who rely on care and support.

“ADASS supports simplifying local government structures and increasing devolution, but reform on this scale brings real risks for adult social care that cannot be ignored.

“Hundreds of thousands of older and disabled people — and the unpaid carers who play a vital role in supporting them — depend on councils every day. Any changes must protect the continuity, quality and safety of that care from day one.

“To do that, government must act now in three critical areas.

“First, there is no clear plan or funding to ensure new councils are financially sustainable. Without this, there is a real risk that some authorities will not be able to meet their legal duties as soon as they are created.

“Second, the leadership pipeline in adult social care is already under significant strain, with persistent challenges in recruiting and retaining experienced Directors of Adult Social Services. Local government reorganisation risks exacerbating this — increasing turnover, disrupting leadership continuity, and creating additional demand for roles that are already hard to fill. Strong, accountable leadership will be critical to a safe transition, yet the system is not currently equipped to meet that challenge. Urgent action is needed to strengthen and expand the pool of senior leaders capable of delivering statutory duties.

“Third, we need a plan to address how ‘ordinary residence’ rules will operate under reorganisation. New council boundaries are likely to concentrate responsibility for care homes in areas with lower land values — places that also tend to have the smallest council tax bases. This creates a structural risk that some councils will inherit significantly higher levels of need without the funding to match.

“Adult social care is already under significant financial pressure. Reform must not add further instability to a system that millions of people rely on. We stand ready to work with government and partners at pace to get this right — but that engagement needs to happen now.”