ADASS responds to the terms of reference of the Independent Commission on adult social care 

ADASS President Jess McGregor, said:

“We welcome the depth and breadth of the Commission’s terms of reference, promising to tackle the big questions at the heart of social care and make real improvements to our care system to enable people to live life on their own terms. This is vital given 4 in 5 of us will need care during our lifetime.  

“Our members, who are leaders of adult social care across 153 councils in England, stand ready to work closely with Baroness Casey and her Commission in the months ahead to provide unique insights, examples and data to understand how social care works and how it can be improved.   

“We particularly welcome the focus on the boundary between social care and the NHS, where we know public money is not always being used to best effect, often at the detriment to people’s health and wellbeing. 

“Local councils are already under considerable pressure, trying to provide more care to people despite facing shrinking budgets, so while we recognise the broader financial challenges the Government faces, immediate investment into adult social care is required. We’re also worried that the current timescales for this Commission – concluding 2028 – are too long and urge the Commission to move faster to give the Government time to implement any changes before the next General Election.  

“That’s why our spending review submission recommended low-or no-cost changes that could be implemented now, while simultaneously acknowledging the fundamental need for further investment.  

“The Casey Commission offers a once in a generation opportunity to shine a light on the importance of adult social care to everyone in our country. Despite so many of us needing it, public awareness remains low and we are trying to change that. That’s why this week we launched a campaign called Care Can’t Wait to show the nation, and Louise Casey, what social care at its best can look like, the positive impact it can have and why we need more of it: www.adass.org.uk/care-cant-wait“.