Social Care leaders calling on the Government to end 25 years of inaction & fix the social care system

ADASS, together with organisations speaking for more than 10 million people who have care and support needs, or are family carers or professionals who seek to meet those needs, are uniting in a joint call on ministers to break their silence on the future of social care.

The unprecedented alliance says that the coronavirus crisis has laid bare the fragilities of the social care system in England after 25 years of failure by successive governments to put it on a sustainable footing.

After the Chancellor said nothing about social care in his budget, there is now an urgent need for clarity about the way forward. We are calling on the government to:

• Make an immediate announcement of extended and increased funding from April to stabilise the care system and ensure continued provision of high-quality services and support, meet the continuing costs of Covid-19 and provide relief and respite for exhausted family carers and care workers.
• Commit to publication before the summer parliamentary recess of promised proposals to “fix the crisis in social care once and for all”, giving MPs the opportunity during the recess to hear from their constituents about the care and support they want for themselves and their families.

James Bullion, president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said:

“With little more than two weeks to go until the new financial year, there is still no news of what funding will be available for care and support and for our care workers who have responded so magnificently throughout the coronavirus crisis.

“We were bitterly disappointed that social care was not mentioned in the chancellor’s budget statement. We are calling on the government to put that right and offer real hope of a way forward for more than 10 million of us who draw on social care or work to provide it.

“This government has the chance to end 25 years of indecision over social care and create a historic legacy. We are urging it to seize that chance now.”

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:

“Social care has been on the frontline throughout the pandemic, with every part of the care and support system experiencing intense pressure over the past year.

“Emergency funding for social care to date has been helpful, but it is essential this is extended beyond the end of this month to prevent any immediate impact on people’s care and health support. We also need a clear plan for the future of adult social care, to address both immediate and short-term pressures, but also how we fund and pay for this vital service in the long-term.

“We reiterate our call for the Government to urgently bring forward its proposals for the future of adult social care as soon as possible, to let people live the lives they want to lead.”

Kathy Roberts, Chair of the Care Provider Alliance, said:

“Emergency funding from the government has been a lifeline to our care and support sector.”

“However, as a result of COVID-19 the ongoing cost pressure is leaving many providers, their employees and the people we support balancing on a financial cliff edge.”

“Joining with the Alliance we demand that Treasury increase the funding available to the whole care sector so that we can effectively deliver essential services, both now and beyond this pandemic.”