Haringey Council faces significant financial pressures as its adult social care services are projected to overspend by £37.2 million, according to the Quarter 3 Finance Update presented at a recent Adults & Health Scrutiny Panel meeting. The overspend is attributed to a rise in the number of individuals requiring support packages, particularly among younger adults aged 50-64 with physical disabilities and mental health needs.
The report pack states that the council is forecast to spend £340m on day to day services and £79m on capital investment, against a budget of £302m. Most services have seen small improvements in their spending against budget since Quarter 2 with the exception of Adult social care where the forecast overspend has increased by almost £1m.
To address the overspend detailed in the 2024-25 Finance Update Quarter 3, the council is exploring several mitigation strategies. These include utilising any unused contingency budgets and conducting a forensic review of the council's balance sheet to identify one-off contributions. However, these measures may not be sufficient, and the council may need to seek Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) from the government. An agreement in principle is in place for up to £28 million in EFS, but drawing on these funds would have long-term financial implications, adding £72,000 to revenue costs each year for the next 20 years for every £1 million used.
The Corporate Delivery Plan acknowledges the budgetary pressures stemming from the rising costs of temporary accommodation and social care. The main driver of the increase since quarter 2 is from demand for services of the cohort of clients aged 50 to 64, presenting with physical disability and mental health needs.
The Adults & Health Scrutiny Panel also discussed the development of the Haringey Carers Strategy 2025-2028, intended to reaffirm the council's commitment to identifying, supporting, and valuing unpaid carers. The strategy, developed in collaboration with carers and partners, focuses on improving access to information and support, strengthening carers' rights and wellbeing, and creating inclusive services.
As part of the Carers Strategy, the council aims to create inclusive, culturally responsive services that reflect the diversity of Haringey's communities. The demographic landscape of unpaid Carers in Haringey is characterised by a predominance of women, an increasing number of older Carers, and significant ethnic diversity. Recognising and addressing the unique needs of these groups is essential for developing inclusive and effective support strategies.
![Illustration of a younger person assisting an older person with a cane.](https://opencouncil.network/rails/activestorage/blobs/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBOXRRQXc9PSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoiYmxvYl9pZCJ9fQ==--db999eb71166588d42712c8dd5111e1fb65157b3/page24Picture_3.jpeg Illustration of a younger person assisting an older person with a cane.
According to the 2021 Census, approximately 16,891 residents in Haringey reported providing unpaid care. Women constitute a significant majority of unpaid Carers in Haringey, accounting for 59.5% of this group. The borough has experienced a 24% increase in residents aged 65 and over between 2011 and 2021. Projections estimate that by 2025, there will be approximately 3,800 unpaid Carers aged 65 and above in Haringey, with numbers expected to rise by around 3% annually. Haringey is one of London's most ethnically diverse boroughs, and this diversity is reflected in the unpaid Carer population, necessitating culturally sensitive support services.
![Infographic showing statistics about carers in Haringey, including hours of care provided, length of time as a carer, access to support, communication preferences, diversity, and wellbeing ratings.](https://opencouncil.network/rails/activestorage/blobs/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBOE5RQXc9PSIsImV4cCI6bnVsbCwicHVyIjoiYmxvYl9pZCJ9fQ==--ea7a098776b70f21ca1c5f99b0069376f7fd3a7f/page8Picture_2.jpeg Infographic showing statistics about carers in Haringey, including hours of care provided, length of time as a carer, access to respite care and support information, communication preferences, ethnic diversity, and wellbeing ratings.
The strategy encompasses carers of all backgrounds including parent carers of children with additional needs, older carers, working-age Carers, and those with additional needs themselves, such as Carers with disabilities or long-term health conditions.
The development of Haringey's new Carers Strategy involved evaluation of the previous strategy, a survey of carers, attendance and discussions at carers meetings and events, in-person and online workshops with Carers and partners, and a review of demographic and census data.
Key priorities of the strategy include:
- Timely access to support and assessments
- Improved access to respite care
- Simplified access to financial support and services
- Amplifying Carers' voices in decision-making
The report pack defines a carer as:
anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support.
The Adults & Health Scrutiny Panel will continue to monitor the situation and explore potential solutions to address the financial challenges and improve support for adult social care recipients and carers in Haringey.
The success of the Haringey Carers Strategy 2025-2028 will be evaluated using several key performance indicators, as outlined in the report pack's Measures of Success
. These include:
- The number of Carers known to the Council
- The number of annual reviews given to residents who have Carers
- Proportion of Carers who report they have been included and / or consulted in discussions about the person they care for
- The number of Carers assessments
- The number of Carers reviews
- The number of Carers who report having access to accessible information about processes, rights and services
- Proportion of Carers who are signposted to other organisations for support
- Overall satisfaction of Carers with social services