Social workers believe the Budget will bring cuts and job losses for the sector, a Community Care poll has found.
On 30 October, chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget allocated £600m in grant funding for social care in 2025-26 as part of a £1.3bn package for councils.
Combined with other revenue increases, this would see local authorities’ available budgets rise by around 3.2% in real terms next year.
However, Reeves also announced a 6.7% rise in the national living wage and an increase in employer national insurance contributions.
Sector leaders have warned that these tax and wage hikes risk swallowing up the extra grant funding, leaving little or nothing to address spending pressures.
In a recent poll amassing 661 votes, most social workers (65%) echoed this concern, predicting the Budget would lead to further strain, cuts and layoffs for the sector.
Only 13% called it a positive step forward, albeit a small one, while 22% said it was too early to determine the impact.
One social worker, Pam, commented that she was recently laid off by her employer, a children’s charity, due to cuts made as a result of the Budget.
“We have elected politicians, who live a life of wealth [and] privilege whilst the vulnerable, elderly, and working class are expected to foot every bill going, and work for free,” she said.
“As for the social work profession, we have nobody to blame except ourselves, as for years we have put up with and taken this nonsense, and still nobody wants to strike and fight for our rights.”
What do you think will be the Budget’s impact on social care?
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