Record numbers of adult social workers

The total number of adult social care workers rose from 17,300 to 18,500 in the year to September 2023, the highest level ever recorded.

Aside from using more agency staff, councils also increased their number of directly employed social workers, from 15,500 to 16,200. There was also a small rise in councils’ use of bank staff.

The growth in the workforce came on the back of a £2bn (10%) real-terms increase in budgeted spending on adults’ services in 2023-24.