SOCIAL CARE has never been “so close to breaking point,” a damning report calling for better housing options, tackling low staff pay and making care more affordable revealed today.

The publication commissioned by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass) called for reform in the sector in England.

Its report said there is a need for change from a workforce that is “poorly paid and feels undervalued and often dissatisfied with their work, and a labour market beset with problems in both recruitment and retention.”

The report called for the implementation of local workforce plans, including experimenting with new roles and creating opportunities for progression.

Charities, unions and MPs have accused the government of broken promises after it announced a halving of social care workforce funding in England.

Despite a previous pledge to invest at least £500 million, the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed in early April that this figure will now be £250m.

To improve affordability of care, the report calls for a more universal system of care and support and closer alignment of entitlements to social care with those to healthcare.

It urges more accessible homes, easy access to retrofitting and adaptations, and designing and building more options for homes with care and support.

Unison head of social care Gavin Edwards warned that ministers were ignoring the social care crisis.

“Deep-rooted staffing problems will only begin to be resolved by addressing endemic low pay in the sector,” he said.

“A national care service with better pay and conditions would end the profiteering in care and turn around this broken system.”

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak called the findings “purely a political failure,” demanding that the government respond to the calls in the report for better pay and a workforce plan.

Age UK director Caroline Abrahams also said the government will “do well to pay attention” to the call for reform, while also acknowledging its responsibility to properly fund the system and support care workers.

National Autistic Society head of research Tim Nicholls said: “After decades of governments breaking their social care promises, the system is in a dire state, made worse by the pandemic and the record number of staff vacancies, the result of wages not keeping pace with the cost of living.”

NHS Providers director of policy Miriam Deakin said that “not enough is being done.”