English council bosses demand urgent help for ‘exhausted’ unpaid carers

Social services directors set out reform plan and say care system has never been so close to breaking point

Council bosses have said attempts to patch up the social care system have “run out of road” and are demanding urgent help for England’s “utterly exhausted” army of 4.7 million unpaid carers.

“Never in my professional career have I seen the adult care system so close to breaking point,” said Sarah McClinton, the outgoing president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), which commissions care services. “Millions of people are in pain or distress because they aren’t getting the care they need and family and friends picking up the pieces are being pushed to the edge.”