A new report from the Local Government Association (LGA) has revealed that investing earlier in preventative support in social care would improve people’s lives and save £3.17 for every pound spent.
The report was produced in partnership with key leaders across the social care field and published to coincide with the National Children's and Adult Services Conference alongside the Time to Act Reform Board.
It found potential savings to the public purse could reach £11.1 billion if preventative health and social care is scaled up across the country.
The report highlights proactive measures and early interventions, such as housing-related support, supported housing, promoting physical activity, social prescribing, advocacy, and peer support.
Councils are calling for funding to pilot new early action and support programmes, which would enable local areas to test innovative approaches to early support in different community settings and assess their effectiveness.
Cllr David Fothergill, chair of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board said: “Properly funded preventative services would mean councils, working closely with partners and people drawing on support, can maximize the impact of their resources and address community needs. This will also drive down demand for more expensive acute health and social care support.
“This report brings together a coalition of support for people with lived experience and other partners in the sector, which shows the importance of prevention being embedded as a core element of health and care systems, rather than being treated as a supplementary service only supported when budgets allow.”
Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE, associate director, Think Local Act Personal said: “Earlier action is not just about reducing future costs- this is an invest to save moment and also an opportunity to "invest to grow". It's about supporting people's ability to live the lives they want and to flourish. By focusing on earlier action and support, we can build a system rooted in independence, resilience, and equity. This is our moment to align vision with action, empowering councils, communities, and people to co-create a future where everyone thrives."
