Appendix 3 ASCH - 24.09.2025

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Demand for adult social care is rising: contacts handled by Health and Social Care Connect increased by 5.0% in 2024/25 compared with 2023/24, and new care-related contacts increased by 14.2% over the same period. p2

The net Adult Social Care and Safer Communities budget for 2025/26 is £283.953m, and the forecast outturn is £292.935m, an overspend of £8.982m largely relating to the Independent Sector. p10p11

The Adult Social Care capital programme budget for 2025/26 is £1.969m, and construction of Phase 2 of the Supported Living scheme at Jasmine Lodge and The Meads is ahead of schedule, with handover to the Council expected by September 2025. p17

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• p2Adult Social Care (ASC) Demand for care and support services In accordance with the Care Act 2014, ASC commission and provide a range of services to support adults and older people across East Sussex. There is an increasing complexity of need amongst people accessing support, and demand for services is exceeding pre-pandemic levels and continuing to increase. As an example: · Overall contacts handled by Health and Social Care Connect (HSCC) Access and Assessment, excluding HSCC Health, continue to increase, with a 5.0% increase in contacts handled in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24, and a 7.8% increase in contacts handled in April to May 25 compared to the same period in 2024. · Between 2023/24 and 2024/25 new 'care' contacts relating to requests for support around care needs increased by 14.2%. Against the context of this increased demand activity levels also continued to increase, including: · a 3.6% increase in Appearance of Need Tools completed in the period April to May 25 compared to the same period in 2024 · a 4.0% increase in assessments completed in the period April to May 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 · a 5% increase in reviews conducted in the period April to May 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 Health and Social Care integration. To build on the progress in 2024/25, the East Sussex Health and Care Partnership has reviewed and refreshed our Shared Delivery Plan (SDP) for 2025/26 for endorsement by our Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB). This has taken into account the NHS
• p10The East Sussex Climate and Health Public Survey has now concluded, receiving just under 600 responses over a six-week consultation period. The survey aimed to understand how residents perceive the impact of climate change on their health and wellbeing. Among the climate-related issues reported, ‘Extreme Winds’ emerged as the most frequently mentioned concern, followed by ‘Flooding’ and ‘Extreme Temperatures’. This valuable public engagement plays a crucial role in shaping the East Sussex Systemwide Climate Change Health Impact Assessment, ensuring that local voices inform future plans and policy to ensure we build and enhance our resilience as a system. The new East Sussex Public Health Hot Food Take Away (HFT) Guidance has been published. It contains Public Health information and background on the obesity crisis, and evidence between the links to healthy weight, lifestyles and environments that reduce health inequalities in East Sussex. The guidance identifies tools and mechanisms for developing HFT approaches, including evidence for Local Planning Authorities to justify the development of restrictive policies within their Local Plans. Since publication, the guidance has been used as a case study for the Town and Country Planning Association’s ‘Restricting the appeal and availability of junk food’ document: https://www.tcpa.org.uk/resources/restricting-the-appeal-and-availability-of-junk-food-in-england-the-role-of-local-councils/ Revenue Budget Summary ASC and Safer Communities The net ASC and Safer Communities budget of £283.953m for 2025/26 includes a 4% inflationary uplift of £10.724m to support the care market across the Independent Sector. This uplift is in addition to £9.626m to fund growth and demographic pressures and service demands, with the costs of the increases being partially funded by £7.515m raised through the 2% ASC Care Precept. The department has savings targets of £7.420m for 2025/26.
• p11The net forecast ASC outturn for 2025/26 is £292.935m, which is an overspend of £8.982m. The overspend largely relates to the Independent Sector, where the overspend is £8.666m. This is due to an increase in demand compared to quarter 4 2024/25 and periods before, which informed the modelling for 2025/26 and therefore would not have captured the 7.4% growth. More people are being supported but at a lower average cost compared to quarter 4 2024/25 (a decrease of 3.5%) because we are managing the market, being prudent with packages of support and reviewing more people. There is an overspend in Directly Provided Services of £0.316m due to staffing cost pressures, increasing costs and demand for equipment services to support people in their homes. Legal costs have also increased due to an increased volume and complexity of cases and an increased need to instruct barristers to provide specialist legal advice and representation. ASC has a savings target of £7.420m this year of which £7.365m will be achieved. The savings for Linden Court will partially be achieved following the decision to continue providing the service at a reduced level. The remaining saving will be achieved through projects currently underway that will increase operational income. Public Health The Public Health (PH) budget of £38.185m comprises of the PH grant allocation of £32.570m and additional income and grants of £3.903m. On top of this are planned draws from reserves of £1.712m. As at 30 th June 2025 the General Public Health Reserve of £2.171m is projected to reduce to £0.318m by the end of the financial year. The Health Visiting Reserve of £1.827m is projected to reduce to £1.327m. Homes for Ukraine
• p17Capital Programme Summary The ASC Capital programme budget for 2025/26 is £1.969m, with both schemes forecasted to be on-line at Q1. Construction works on Phase 2 of the Supported Living scheme at Jasmine Lodge and The Meads are ahead of schedule, with completion of the works and handover of the buildings back to the Council expected by September 2025 . Performance exceptions (see How to read this report for definition) Priority – Keeping vulnerable people safe