The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) has called on the government to urgently bring forward proposals for reforms to sort out social care “for all, once and for all”.
In a speech to the National Children and Adult Services Conference, ADASS president James Bullion (pictured) said the reform must be comprehensive and not a “narrow template that simply addresses the funding of residential care for older people”.
“We owe it, as a society, to carers, to people in need, and to our paid staff to start delivering that reform now – no more procrastination - as a recognition of everything we have done and are doing to sustain the system,” he added.
Bullion said 2020 has been shown to be a “annus horribilis” but the year had also shown the social care family at its “very best, rising to the challenge with utter dedication, with flexibility and ingenuity, and with sheer, downright bravery.”
“Our hearts go out to the families of the tens of thousands of people who are no longer with us, including the loved ones of more than 600 care and health workers who have paid the ultimate price in their dedication to supporting people with social care needs. We recognise their sacrifice.”
Bullion expressed disappointment that Chancellor Rishi Sunak has decided to have a one-year spending review later this month, and not the full three-year exercise that had been planned.
ADASS had called for a funding settlement for two years for adult social care.
“We acknowledge the one-off funding from government in this year. But we still need that future stability to ensure continuity of services this winter in the pandemic and next year before any reform might be implemented,” said Bullion.
The ADASS president also urged ministers to introduce arrangements for designated visitors and financial help to create Covid-secure visiting areas in care homes.
“As we lock down tomorrow we need corridors of care that cross the divides…we cannot isolate people away, or separate people from their loved ones through blanket approaches.
“As the approach in France shows us, this need not mean a complete ban on care home visiting which we know is so important to families, especially in the run-up to Christmas.”
