New report reveals human realities of a social care system struggling to cope

A new report investigating the state of social care through the eyes of individuals and families reveals a system struggling to cope. The Real Lives report, published by the Richmond Group of Charities in partnership with the British Red Cross and the Royal Voluntary Society, sets out the real life experience of seven individuals and families using social care services today. The report concludes: ‘Six consecutive years of budget reductions to publicly-funded care, increasing demand, increasingly acute levels of need, workforce pressures, provider failure and market exit are all converging to create the perfect storm. The net effect of these pressures