Adult Social Care

Delays in accessing assessments and care packages continue to be reported across local authorities, with increasing demand placing pressure on already stretched systems. This reinforces ongoing concerns around timeliness, availability and the practical delivery of care once needs are identified.
https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/

Workforce capacity remains a central issue, with recruitment and retention challenges continuing to impact continuity and reliability of care provision.
https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/

Variability in local authority decision-making continues to be a key theme, particularly in how eligibility criteria and personal budgets are applied in practice.

Later Life Support

Families continue to face increasing pressure when navigating care decisions, particularly where support is required quickly following a health event or deterioration.
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/

The role of unpaid carers remains significant, with many individuals balancing multiple responsibilities and often stepping in where formal support is delayed or unclear.
https://www.carersuk.org/

There remains a continued need for clearer forward planning around later life support, particularly in understanding funding thresholds and available options before a crisis point is reached.
https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/

Consumer Duty & Vulnerability

The FCA’s Consumer Duty continues to embed across financial services, with firms expected to demonstrate how they are delivering good outcomes for clients, particularly those in vulnerable situations.
https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/consumer-duty

There is an increasing expectation that vulnerability is identified early and addressed proactively, especially where decisions have long-term financial and personal implications.
https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/finalised-guidance/fg21-1.pdf

The intersection between financial advice and care planning remains an area of growing importance, particularly where later life decisions require coordinated support.