The latest ADASS Spring Survey leaves little room for ambiguity: England’s adult social care system is under intensifying pressure.

The 2025 report outlines a sector facing record overspend, shrinking capacity, and mounting concern over its ability to meet even the most fundamental Care Act duties in the year ahead. But behind the data, there is also a growing determination to innovate – to use limited resources more wisely, and to create care systems that are not only reactive, but resilient.

At Imosphere, we see that determination every day in the local authorities we work alongside. Councils are not waiting for perfect conditions to act. They are proactively embedding better ways of working – and doing so with speed, clarity, and compassion. This report only reinforces the urgency of that work.

What the data tells us – and what it doesn’t

According to ADASS, 2024/25 saw councils overspend by £774 million – the highest on record. Directors also reported falling confidence in their ability to deliver statutory duties around prevention, carer support, and market sustainability. Perhaps most concerning is the reported decline in spending on preventative services, reversing three years of slow but steady progress.

But the report also reveals a system stretching itself to cover the gaps. A striking 94% of directors say that adult social care services are meeting needs where NHS services are missing. Meanwhile, more unpaid carers are stepping forward to request formal support – a signal that this crucial group is reaching breaking point.

While these headlines confirm what many already feel on the ground, they also point to a stark reality: continuing to firefight with short-term fixes is no longer viable.

So what does a better way look like?

For many councils, the answer lies not in wholesale transformation, but in targeted, intelligent improvements that build long-term resilience, starting at the front door.

That’s where many councils are now focusing their efforts, shifting from reactive decision-making to more proactive, data-informed planning. By embedding consistent, strengths-based assessments and developing clearer, needs-aligned funding approaches, they’re working to make the system fairer, more sustainable, and better able to meet the requirements of the Care Act.

From our work with local authorities across the country, here’s how we’ve seen practical change being delivered through the use of the right tools.

Smarter assessments, stronger decisions

Many councils are focusing on strengthening assessment quality and consistency. By using strengths-based approaches that are easy to scale and standardise, teams are capturing need more clearly, avoiding unnecessary escalation, and making fair, defensible decisions. This is leading to better outcomes for the people they support.

Fair and accurate budgeting

More local authorities are moving toward needs-aligned budgeting models that offer greater accuracy and transparency. These approaches are helping reduce disputes, speed up approvals, and ensure resources are targeted where they’re needed most. Some councils are achieving budget estimates that consistently fall within 5% of actual costs. Having a clear, meaningful view of needs can help shape what is needed from the market – driving toward a more sustainable future.

Supporting carers before crisis

Unpaid carers are playing an increasingly vital role, and councils are acting earlier to support them. Through self-assessment and other early identification tools, it’s becoming easier to spot carers at risk of breakdown and provide the right help sooner, easing pressure on both families and services.

Managing demand at the front door

To reduce pressure on frontline teams, some councils are implementing digital triage and self-assessment tools that guide people to the right support without always requiring a full assessment. In practice, this is helping reduce inappropriate referrals by as much as 25% –  freeing up capacity for more complex cases.

Working with what we’ve got and doing it well

While long-term reform remains essential, many councils aren’t waiting for national change. They’re taking practical, proactive steps to do more with what they have. Whether that’s through smarter use of data, more consistent processes, or earlier intervention.

At Imosphere, we are proud to support this work. Our tools are built in partnership with local authorities, shaped by real frontline insight, and designed to help services deliver better outcomes with the resources available.

The pressures are real, but so is the appetite for practical change. And that’s where Imosphere is focused: enabling councils to act early, plan smarter, and build care systems that can truly last.