Introduction
Welcome to Wakefield Adult Social Care Local
Account 2024–2025. This document provides an overview of our performance,
achievements, and priorities for the year ahead.
The Local Account is designed to be transparent
and accessible, showing how we support adults with care and support needs,
unpaid carers, and our local communities.
Foreword by Rachel Bowes
I am delighted to introduce this
year’s Local Account, which reflects the incredible work happening across
Wakefield with adults who have care and support needs and their unpaid carers.
Adult Social Care is about more
than services, it’s about people, relationships, and our communities, ensuring
everyone can live the life they choose with dignity and independence. Over the
past year, we have faced challenges, but we have also seen inspiring examples
of co-production, innovation, and partnership working that make a real
difference to people’s lives
2024–2025 marked a significant milestone for
Wakefield Adult Social Care, as we underwent our first inspection by the Care
Quality Commission (CQC) under the new Single Assessment Framework. This Local Account is an opportunity to share what we
have achieved together, to be transparent about where we need to improve, and
to set out our priorities for the year ahead. Our focus remains on listening to
the voices of those who use our services and their carers, tackling
inequalities, and ensuring adult social care is inclusive, sustainable, and
responsive to changing needs.
Thank you to all our partners and staff
for your continued commitment, investment and support. Most importantly, thank
you to you, our Wakefield residents and carers, and to those who have shared
their experiences to inform our plans. Your insight and feedback is invaluable,
and together we will continue to strengthen our coproduction ethos to make
Wakefield a place where everyone can live well, independently, and with dignity.
Rachel Bowes
Corporate Director, Adult Social Care
Working With People
We want people to shape adult
social care in Wakefield. We do this by working together, using people’s
experiences, and treating everyone with respect.
We involve people in several ways,
including:
- Listening and coproducing:
Our new Engagement and Coproduction Lead is helping us build a stronger coproduction approach across Adult Social Care. They are creating new links with council teams, voluntary organisations and health partners, and are developing a new way of engaging with people who use our services. - Working with engagement groups:
We work with self‑advocacy and engagement groups such as the Integrated Care Board’s People Panel and our Citizens Panel, which is run for us by Healthwatch Wakefield. - Making information accessible:
We create Easy Read documents with support from people with lived experience. Members of the Learning Disability self‑advocacy group Lift Up Friends help us check that our documents are clear and useful. - Sharing people’s stories:
Stories from people who draw on care and support, including unpaid carers such as Gemma's Story, help us understand what works well and where we can improve. - Listening through surveys:
Each year we survey people who use our services. We also survey unpaid carers every two years.
These examples sit alongside other
ways we gather feedback, such as direct conversations, compliments and
complaints, data, and the views of our partners and regulators.
Get involved
We are committed to making sure
people who draw on care and support are central to how services are designed
and delivered. If you would like to share your lived experience and help shape
our services, please email adultsocalcare@wakefield.gov.uk
Our Approach to Adult Social Care in Wakefield
We focus on what is strong, not
what is wrong. We work with people, families and carers to build on their
strengths and goals. This includes personal strengths, support from others, and
support available in the community. This approach helps us provide care that is
personal, respectful and empowering.
Our strengths-based approach
includes:
- Using our Practice Framework:
Our Adult Social Care Practice Framework is based on national good practice. It guides our teams to focus on what matters most to each person. It also helps us move from a service‑led approach to one that is shaped around outcomes.
Home First
We want people to stay independent,
safe and well for as long as possible. We act early, give clear advice and
offer support at the right time. This helps prevent crises and leads to better
outcomes.
Our Home First approach includes Intermediate
Care.Our home and bed‑based Intermediate Care services support people to
recover after illness or injury. They also help prevent hospital stays. We work
closely with NHS partners so people can live well and remain independent in
their homes and communities.
TEC First
Technology plays a key role in
helping people stay independent and safe.
Our TEC First approach includes using
the right technology. We support people with a range of tools, from simple
gadgets to smart devices. These help people stay connected, manage their health
and feel confident at home. We make sure technology is considered as part of
every care plan.
What This Means for You
Adult Social Care in Wakefield is
here to help people stay independent and live well by supporting the everyday
things that matter most. This means:
·
Staying connected with
the people and places that are important to you
·
Keeping clean, dressed,
and comfortable
·
Preparing meals and
keeping your home safe
·
Moving around safely
and confidently
·
Accessing learning,
volunteering, and local services
·
Supporting those who
care for others
Our goal is simple: to make sure everyone gets the right help at the
right time, so they can live the life they choose.
Our Services
- Assessment and Care Management – First contact is through Social Care Direct.
We assess needs and link people to the right team.
- Support for Older Adults and Adults with
Disabilities – Help for people
with physical, sensory, or learning disabilities and long-term health
conditions.
- Mental Health Services – Support for mental health needs, including
crisis help.
- Accommodation-Based Services – Nursing and residential care, supported
living, care at home, and day opportunities.
- Community Services – Delivered with local voluntary and community
partners.
- Personalisation and Direct Payments – Personal budgets so people can arrange their
own care.
- Occupational Therapy and Wheelchair Services – Assessments, home adaptations, equipment, and
wheelchairs to promote independence and safety.
- Carer Support – Resources and assessments for unpaid carers, including digital
tools and respite options.
- Adaptations and Equipment – Help to make homes safer and more accessible.
- Safeguarding Adults – Protecting vulnerable adults from abuse and
neglect.
- Home First Intermediate Care – Physical rehabilitation and recovery after
illness or injury, and support to avoid hospital admission.
- Technology Enabled Care (TEC) – Digital solutions and assistive technology for
adults and children to help them stay safe, connected, and independent at
home.
Key Achievements 2024–2025
How We Made A Difference
73.5% people were satisfied with their care and
support (ASC Survey 24-25), improved from 69.8% in 23-24. Wakefield ranked
2nd highest compared to our nearest neighbour peer councils and 3rd
from 152 councils with Adult Social Services responsibilities in England.
85.1% who use services reported they had control over
their daily life (ASC Survey 24-25), improved from 79.7% in 23-24. Wakefield
ranked highest compared to our nearest neighbour peer councils and 5 / 153 councils
in England.
19.7 Quality of Life Score for people who use
services. Based on 8 questions in the ASC Survey. Wakefield ranked joint
highest among our nearest neighbour councils and 5 / 152 LAs in England
76.8% of people who use services found it easy to find
information about services and/or support, improved from 67.6% in 23-24. Wakefield
ranked 2nd highest compared to our nearest neighbour councils and 13 /
153 councils in England.
64.5% of people aged 65+ are receiving long term care in the
community (Oct-25). This is increasing and the latest reported England average
is 63%
Initial ASCOF outcomes from the 2025-26
survey of adult carers have improved from the previous survey in 2023-24, where
we were already one of the best local authorities compared to our nearest
neighbour councils.
Our Ambitions for 2025–2026
Maximise Independence
We want to help people live independently for as long as possible. We do this
through early support and prevention, so people can stay strong and avoid
crisis.
Support People to
Achieve Their Best Outcomes
Our services are person-centred and focused on what matters most. We aim to
deliver the best possible outcomes for individuals and communities.
Achieve a Balanced
Budget
We use our resources wisely. Every pound is spent to make the biggest impact
and support high-quality, long-term services.
Enhance the
Person’s Journey
We want every person to have a smooth, compassionate experience. We make sure
people feel supported at every stage of their journey.
Promote Integrated
Working
We work closely with NHS and other partners. By joining up services, we reduce
duplication and make support timely and coordinated.
Foster a Learning Organisation
Our council is committed to learning and improving. We use evidence and
reflective practice to keep getting better.
Empower the
Workforce
We support our staff to feel confident and safe. A strong, resilient workforce
means better outcomes for people.
Focus on
Prevention and Early Intervention
We aim to stop problems before they start. By acting early, we reduce reliance
on long-term services and help people stay well.
Challenges in Wakefield
Population Growth
By 2030, Wakefield’s population will rise from 369,215
to 384,498 (+4.1%). More people living longer means more demand for care and
support.
Financial
Pressures
Adult social care faces rising costs and demand. Care providers are under
financial strain, leading to higher fees and fewer options.
Changing Health
Needs
People are living longer with more complex conditions. Obesity is a major
issue:
- 70% of adults are overweight or obese
- 25% of reception-age children and 37% of Year 6
pupils have excess weight (2023/24)
Recruitment
Challenges
We need a strong workforce for the future. Like other councils, we face
recruitment challenges and are working to build a positive, inclusive culture
to attract and keep skilled staff.
Financial Overview
Wakefield Council’s net expenditure on adult
social care was approximately £160 million in 2024/25:
Adults aged 18 – 64 years is £65,929,000
Adults aged 65+ = £59,604,000
Other* = £35,321,000
Total £160,853,000
*Other is defined as: substance misuse, asylum
seeker support, support to carers, support for social isolation, assistive
equipment and technology, social care activities, information and early
intervention and commissioning and service delivery.
Case Studies
Focus on our Technology
Enabled Care Team - Our TEC Team promotes a
‘TEC First’ approach, prioritising the use of technology before offering more
traditional service interventions.
In 2024/25 our user of
Technology Enabled Care helped to:
·
support 1,800 residents
in partnership with Wakefield District Housing
·
provided 24/7
monitoring and mobile response for 1,300+ people
·
train staff and
community services to promote TEC use
·
established TEC
champions to lead the shift towards digital care
·
offered TEC equipment
loans, including voice-activated controls for lights and blinds.
A short video shares the stories
and experiences of people supported by our Reablement Team.
https://youtu.be/oE3tPhJyn5g?si=tE70ou7NCFsgOGwA
Our 2024–25 ASCOF results show that 86.8% of new referrals did not need
ongoing support after reablement.
This has improved from 82.1% in 2023–24 and is an important measure in
our Maximising Independence transformation programme.
https://youtu.be/BpTalzs5WxI?si=joRnimjzabMX_EaO
Sensory Impairment Team
Our Sensory Impairment Team
supports people with sight loss, hearing loss and dual sensory loss. The team
helps people stay safe, independent and confident in their daily lives.
So far in 2025, the team has
supported people in several ways, including:
- Responding to over 400 referrals:
These include people with sight loss, hearing loss and combined sensory needs. - Providing specialist Orientation and Mobility
(O&M) training:
The team delivered 59 O&M programmes, taught by rehab officers for people who are visually impaired.
O&M training helps people learn how to use a long cane and move safely and independently outdoors.
This training can take many months, or even years, but it gives people greater confidence and independence. - Supporting people with hearing loss:
29 people have received specialist equipment to improve safety and independence at home. - Issuing Certificates of Visual Impairment (CVI):
100 people have been issued with a CVI in 2025. The team assessed each person and provided specialist training, advice or guidance. - Offering wider specialist support:
The team has taught braille and deafblind communication skills, provided kitchen skills training, carried out lighting assessments, offered sighted guiding for families and carers, and supported people to use technology.
https://youtu.be/3mOLKEbik1c?si=wb2tUThGXmcGlJTE
International Recruitment – Displaced
Worker Project
WCCH are continuing to work with
the Yorkshire & Humber International Recruitment Hub to support displaced
workers into suitable employment in Adult Social Care in Wakefield. We are
pleased to report that 49 displaced workers have secured employment since
receiving support from WCCH and we continue to support many more.
Here is some of the feedback that
we received from displaced workers who have been supported through the project:
‘Dear Wakefield Cares…I would like to express my sincere gratitude for all
the support and assistance you have provided in helping me search for
employment. Your guidance and efforts have been truly appreciated’ - Displaced
Worker June 2025
‘I’m writing this email
to thank you for your assistance in getting sponsorship I
really appreciate it.’– Displaced Worker November 2025