The director-general for adult social care at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has stepped down from her job in a surprise move.
Rosamond Roughton, who was appointed to the role in the spring, has left the department and “is now on a career break”, according to the Guardian newspaper citing Whitehall sources.
As the senior civil servant for adult social care, Roughton (pictured) was a key contact for social care leaders during the Covid-19 crisis.
The former NHS official was tasked with strengthening DHSC’s response to the pandemic after being appointed the first dedicated director-general for adult social care in government since 2016.
The department has come under heavy criticism for official guidance in the early stages of the pandemic that saw thousands of hospital patients discharged to care homes without being tested for Covid-19.
The Guardian reported no explanation had been given for the sudden departure of Roughton.
In a related development, social care leaders accused the government of treating the sector as the “poor relation” to the NHS after the latter was given a £3bn cash injection to fight a second wave of Covid-19.
The Independent Care Group (ICG), which represents care homes in North Yorkshire, said the care of older and vulnerable adults had been “forgotten”.
“There is no mention of extra funding to help hard-pressed local authorities to in turn support social care looking after people in their own homes, in care and nursing homes and in local communities,” said ICG chairman Mike Padgham.
“Social care providers are facing their own spiralling costs from extra staff and personal protective equipment and falling income from reduced take-up of services and admissions,” he added.
