Predicted trends in care management for 2023

We have delved into some of the Care sector trends for 2023 so that you and your employees can be equipped to adjust and capitalise on the advancements in care.

The following are the principal Social Care trends to keep an eye on next year.

Additional Funding but Reform Delayed

In the UK Government's Autumn Statement, it was announced that the funding for Social Care will rise by £2.8 billion in the coming year and £4.7 billion in 2024.

The extra funding comprises £1 billion to provide direct support for discharging patients from hospitals into the community, as well as funds for local authorities to offer an additional 200,000 care packages over the next two years.

Furthermore, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced that it will undertake an independent evaluation of workforce needs over the next five, ten, and fifteen years.

The increased funding will be partially financed by a two-year deferment of Social Care reforms, which will introduce an £86,000 cap on the amount that individuals in England must spend on personal care throughout their lifetime. These reforms are now slated to come into effect in October 2025.

The House of Lords Adult Social Care Committee has stated that the Autumn Statement has left "many questions unanswered, both in terms of the allocation of the available funding and the Government's strategy and vision for adult Social Care."

Keep a lookout for the committee's forthcoming report, "A “gloriously ordinary life”: Spotlight on adult social care," due to be published this month.

New Guidelines for Inspections

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have unveiled a fresh structure for assessing facilities for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) starting next year.

The previous assessment procedure centred on evaluating local authorities' compliance. However, the novel approach will place more weight on receiving feedback directly from the children, young people, and their families.

The novel framework also intends to offer "firmer accountability" through interaction with regional zones, which will involve evaluations and supervision assessments.

The evaluations will yield three separate results, precisely outlining the necessary enhancements and the bodies accountable.

Digitising Care

A significant trend for 2023 will be the continued digitisation of  Care, aimed at reducing paperwork and manual tasks to allow care professionals to focus on people. This is Flocare can help! It may require some adaptation, but ultimately, it is more efficient, secure and dependable - for you and those you care for.

The UK Government's white paper on Adult Social Care Reform, released last December, discovered that only 40% of Social Care providers utilise completely digital workflows and records. Additionally, almost a quarter of care home personnel do not have dependable internet access.

The government has set a target of having digitised care records in place for at least 80% of providers by March 2024. They will make £25 million available in 2022/23 to support the swift digitisation of Social Care. 

Personalisation is essential to capitalising on these prospects. Rather then the traditional bulk buying approach by local authorities resulting in a blanket approach that is not always suitable, this funding will allow for differentiation and a tailored approach to care for different organisations.

For example, pendant alarms and other traditional telecare methods may not still be suitable where telephone lines are being decommissioned. However, there may be a modern digital equivalent which provides a safer and more cost-effective solution. 

We are increasingly seeing that it is better to determine what the person or organisation needs or wants to accomplish and then devise a tailored technology solution to accomplish it

As digital systems become more prevalent and paper-based methods are phased out we expect to see more and more technology being created which will integrate with these systems.  We predict that there will be a good deal of testing out of new ideas, opportunities for scaling as costs on new tech come down and many new disruptive solutions that will help deliver better social care.

Energy Tariffs

As the cost of living escalates in the UK, the Social Care industry will have an increased emphasis on cost management next year, including energy expenditures.

During the winter months, care homes face significant energy bills, and as reported by The Guardian, Care England has requested Ofgem, the government's energy regulator, to investigate supplier practices and energy tariffs imposed on care homes.

Martin Green, the CEO of Care England, which represents independent adult care providers, stated in a letter to Ofgem that energy providers were placing "excessive burdens" on care homes.

The government has implemented a six-month emergency energy price cap for businesses beginning on October 1st 2022. However, if prices continue to soar after the cap expires, Social Care providers may seek further assistance in coping with increasing bills.

Recycle to Save

Social Care leaders and you may have the opportunity to capitalise on another saving next year, through food waste recycling.

According to a report by Keenan Recycling, proper food recycling could save businesses thousands of pounds annually. As reported by Care Home Professional, care homes could save £7,000 per year by recycling leftover food rather than sending it to a landfill.

Keenan Recycling also discovered that 64% of UK care homes were unaware of a proposed new law to make it compulsory for companies in England to recycle food waste. Nearly half (48%) of UK care homes did not regard food waste as a central priority, and 42% stated that they did not recycle food waste at all.

Given the environmental and financial benefits it provides, food waste recycling could be a crucial trend in Social Care in 2023.

At Flocare we are keen to keep on top of what is happening in the care sector to ensure that our systems and features reflect the current and future landscape of care. Innovation is fueled by intelligent and flexible responses to challenges in the here and now. To stay aware of the latest news for the care sector and what this may mean for you and your organisation, sign up to receive our newsletter and check out our other articles.