On average councils will overspend their adult social care budget by almost £900,000 in 2018-19, according to a snap survey by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Care.

The survey found that, at present, 56% of directors of adult social services are forecasting overspend against their budget with just 25% predicting a balanced budget.

Findings of the survey emerged as ADASS president Glen Garrod’s addressed the National Children and Adults Services Conference. He argued that cuts to care and support for older and disabled people had “gone too far”.

“I am worried – very worried – that a small but growing number of colleagues are finding their role almost impossible,” he said.

“The role is demanding enough and as the ADASS annual survey and the recent autumn snap survey revealed – my fellow directors’ confidence at maintaining statutory services is increasingly becoming the exception.

“This is an untenable position when the lack of money means services decline, standards reduce, and risks to people increase.”

In the Budget, chancellor Phillip Hammond announced £650m for adult social care for 2019-20. But ADASS said this funding was “woefully inadequate”.

The snap survey also found nearly nine in 10 directors of adult social care services are either partly or not confident in meeting their legal duties relating to market sustainability by the end of 2019-20. This requires councils to make sure there is sufficient choice of quality care homes and home care available to meet local people’s needs.

ADASS’s findings were based on responses from 97 (64%) adult social care directors in England.

In October, the Public Accounts Committee called for social care to be given a fully costed 10-year plan similar to that of the NHS