Market Introduction

We are pleased to share our Market Position Statement.  This sets out information on the different types of services commissioned by Adult Care Services for people in Waltham Forest. It also describes how we see demand for care and support changing in the next few years and what sort of service provision we believe we will need to meet it.   

The pandemic, and cost of living crisis have had a major impact on care staff, and we are facing significant recruitment and retention issues across services.  We want to work with people in Waltham Forest and care providers and other partners to help tackle these issues together.   

Demand for supported housing is growing and developing so is a key area of focus for the next few years. We want to increase the specialist housing options for people but also help more people to move on to their own home. More people are being supported into employment despite the current economic challenges.  People have told us they want feel part of a community and develop friendships and their interests.  This is changing our approach to day services and opportunities. Adults, carers and the staff who work with them want more personalised care and we know that the processes and services which will support this need significant work over the next few years. 

The recent few years have had a huge impact on demand for care and support and on our care providers.  The pandemic and the associated economic impact have had a major impact on care staff, and we are facing significant recruitment and retention issues across services.  We want to work with people in Waltham Forest, care providers and other partners to help tackle these issues together.  

This will include further work over the coming years to understand the costs of providing care. 

We would welcome your views on how useful the information is and the format for presenting the data as we continue to develop the range of information we can share.  

To provide feedback through the website using our "contact us" section. 

Waltham Forest is a London borough in the London region. In 2021, the total population of Waltham Forest was 278,400 people. This is an increase of 4% (15,594) since 2012. Waltham Forest is ranked 17 (out of 33 London boroughs in the London region) in terms of total population (with 1 being the largest).  

As with other London boroughs, there is considerable population churn in Waltham Forest, with high levels of movement in and out of the borough1.  

The 2021 Census showed 38.6% of Waltham Forest’s residents were born outside the UK. The median age in Waltham Forest is the same as London, 35 years, which is lower than the England average of 40 years. While Waltham Forest has, on average, a younger population compared with England, future population growth is forecast to be unevenly distributed between age groups. Between 2010 and 2020 the population aged 18 to 64 increased by 7% while those aged 65 to 84 increased by 20% and by 25% in the population aged over 85. The ageing population is leading to increased demand and spending on health and social care services and more demand on services provided by the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector. There are also economic impacts from a lower proportion of the population being of working age. 

The 2021 Census that showed that 47.2% of the resident population are non-White and 52.8% are White (based on each person's perceived ethnic group and cultural background). The predominate ethnic group in Waltham Forest is residents who are White, followed by residents who are Asian/Asian British, representing 52.8 and 19.9 percent of the population respectively. 

Waltham Forest is ranked 19th lowest out of 317 for Income Deprivation Affecting Older People with approximately 23% of our over 60 population experiencing income deprivation2. In the 2019 Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) Waltham Forest was ranked the 82nd most deprived borough nationally out of 317 districts. There are enormous differences in deprivation within the borough and high levels of poverty in wards in the south and west. 

While Waltham Forest is not among the most deprived boroughs in London or nationally, 14 of its 20 wards have higher levels of deprivation than the average for England and London. 

Waltham Forest has an Income Deprivation Affecting Older People Index (IDAOPI) score of 0.228 (2019). This measures the proportion of all those aged 60 or over who experience income deprivation. The average for London is 0.217. 

There are widespread inequalities in life expectancy within Waltham Forest. For women, Chapel End ward had the highest life expectancy over the period 2016–2020, at 88.4 years compared with 80.8 for women in Lea Bridge ward, a difference of 7.6 years. Hale End and Higham’s Park and Chingford Green wards have the highest male life expectancy, 83.6 and 82.7 years respectively, compared with 77.3 years in Hoe Street. The difference between the wards with the highest and lowest average life expectancy for men in Waltham Forest is 6.2 years. Eight wards have lower male life expectancy than the average for England, and two wards have lower life expectancy than England for women3. 

As in other London boroughs, and across England, in Waltham Forest there has been a rise in recorded depression for those aged 18 and over4. 

Life expectancy in Waltham Forest is similar to the England average – 79.8 years for men and 83.2 years for women.  Average life expectancy for Waltham Forest is 81.5 years. 

In the 2021 census, 14% of over 65s reported very good health, 37% fairly good and 16% bad/very bad.  7% of the resident population (over 20s) reported that they were disabled a lot and 9% a little. 

As at the end of 2022/2023 Waltham Forest was supporting 3,280 adults with long term support needs. 1550 of these were ages 18 to 64 and 1730 were aged 65 and over. Of those aged 18 to 64: 

•  535/1550 (35%) had physical support needs. 
•  625/1550 (40%) had Learning Disability support needs. 
•  375/1550 (24%) had Mental Health Support needs.  

Of those aged 65+: 

•  1380/1730 (80%) had physical support needs. 
•  105/1730 (6%) had Memory & Cognition needs. 
•  160/1730 (9%) had Mental Health Support needs.  

There are over 55,900 residents aged 55 and over in the borough, many experiencing ageing positively, remaining healthy, independent and engaged. 8% of residents provide unpaid care with 2% reporting that they provide over 50 hours of unpaid care per week. 

However, over 30% of older people are living in poverty with a sense of isolation being higher in older people than younger residents.  

7,518 people aged between 50 and 65 years of age in Waltham Forest in January 2023 were claiming universal credit. 5,677 people aged 65+ (19.9% of the population of that age) were claiming pension credit as at 2022/23 Q2. 

The median gross weekly wage for employees living in Waltham Forest is £754.00. This compares with an England wage of £645.80. Furthermore, 8.5% of working age people in Waltham Forest are unemployed, compared with 3.8% nationally. 

At the time of the Census in 2021, 20% of households in Waltham Forest owned their property outright, 30.4% owned their property with a mortgage or loan or through shared ownership, 21.4% rented from the council or another social landlord, 27.8% rented privately, and the remaining 0.1% were households living rent free. 13.5% (13,800) of residents lived in overcrowded housing. 72% of residents trust the Council, surpassing the national benchmark of 56%5. 61% of residents over 65 are satisfied with how the council runs things and 50% are satisfied with council services and support. 

Over half the residents without digital skills are over 65 and 10% of over 65s don’t have access to the internet.  

Waltham Forest is a vibrant place and a thriving borough. It’s our people and wonderful communities that make it what it is. Waltham Forest is a borough people are proud to call home, where they feel they belong, and are part of a community. 83% of residents feel the borough is a good place to live (Autumn 23 Resident Insight Survey), 87% of residents over 65 feel they belong to their neighbourhood and 79% feel they belong to their borough.  

We’re a borough where people can have a great start in life, grow up, settle down, and age well. We all help build amazing and resilient communities, keeping one another safe, joining in celebration and coming together when times are difficult. This is founded on the relationships we build, including those that mean people are connected and not lonely or isolated, and the warm welcome we extend to anyone seeking sanctuary. 

Our residents are our greatest asset, and everybody has something they can offer their community. At times though, throughout life, people and families need help. When they do, we recognise the part adult social care plays, to ensure everyone can get the support they need at the right time and in the right ways for them. 

We’re a bold and ambitious borough and we’ve achieved an incredible amount over the last few years in testing times and despite unprecedented financial pressures meaning difficult decisions made to manage resources. We’re committed to doing things differently, taking difficult decisions where we must, and changing how we deliver services to achieve the best outcomes for our residents. Listening to our communities, understanding their experiences, and working together is the only way we can support the needs and aspirations of residents. We will continue to give people more influence over challenges they want to overcome and a greater say over decisions affecting their lives, aligning our priorities with theirs. Through co-creating meaningful solutions together, communities will have more power to shape the decisions and services that affect their lives. 

People at the Heart of Our Place sets out our commitment for providing the support people and families in Waltham Forest need, at the right time, in the right place, and in ways that work for them. We want everyone in Waltham Forest to receive high quality services and support that is personalised and available at the right time, more locally, and in ways that work for them. Support will be led by people and families, giving them more choice, using a strengths-based approach focused on what they can do, and building capacity and resilience so people can help themselves and each other in their communities.