Updated: FEARS have risen that York’s care network for vulnerable adults is facing a cash crisis – just days after being praised by a health watchdog.

City of York Council has revealed its adult social services section could spill over its budget for the current financial year by about £1.1 million, almost double the amount previously predicted.

The potential overspend and the worries surrounding it will be discussed by the authority’s health overview and scrutiny committee next week amid suggestions the financial strain in the department has led to crunch talks being scheduled tomorrow.

Last week, the council’s adult social services section was ranked as performing “well” – the second highest rating possible – by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

But a report to be presented at the committee meeting admits the financial situation is “clearly serious” after the projected overspend soared from £589,000 and it identifies a string of areas which are contributing to the cash strain.

These include an increase in the expected number of mental health residential and nursing placements, a rise in the “volume and complexity” of support for people with learning disabilities and more elderly people needing community-based help.

“I am gravely concerned about this and the effect upon social services,” said Coun James Alexander, who chairs the health overview and scrutiny committee.

“At the moment, I am only hearing rumours which paint a very bleak picture. I have not been consulted on this issue. The committee has invited Coun Jonathan Morley, who is in charge of this area, to our next meeting, and hopefully we will then get the answers we need.”

The committee will be recommended to meet with the council’s adult social services and finance chiefs “to discuss the budget pressures in more detail”.

The Press has been told that the social services team has been under intense strain of late, with staff able to tell when and where people need support, but struggling to provide it.

Anne Bygrave, the authority’s assistant director in housing and adult social services, said tomorrow’s meeting was the third in an annual series of “staff engagement events” and was designed to congratulate workers on the CQC findings.

She said: “We will also be discussing, among other issues, the ongoing improvement work underway in our services, which are focusing on meeting the needs of our customers.”