National social leaders have called on the government to publish reform proposals ahead of the parliamentary summer recess on 22 July.
Organisations including the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), Care England, Social Care Institute for Excellence and Care Provider Alliance have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Matt Hancock setting out three priority areas for action.
The first is an immediate injection of funding to enable short term stability and “avoid serious risks to support during the next phase of the pandemic and beyond”.
Secondly, the letter urges the government to bring forward proposals for longer-term investment and reform as an “immediate priority to create a simpler, fairer system”.
Reform should be targeted on action to shift towards “more home, housing and community focused, asset-based, inclusive and preventative models of care”.
Thirdly, the letter calls for investment to speed the shift towards a system of social care that is both “sustainable and fit for the modern age”.
That includes: a targeted fund enabling councils and their partners to make a rapid shift towards prevention; a new deal for the care workforce, including personal assistants and other non-traditional workforce roles; funding support for action on inequalities and levelling up; an innovation fund to enable local authorities to harness the true potential of technology; and transformation and improvement support to councils and providers.
“Each of these actions is essential for creating the conditions in which social care can be a full and equal partner with the NHS and enable more people to remain independent, living in their own home or in their community,” the letter states.
“We would welcome the opportunity to discuss our concerns with you and stand ready to work with the government to ensure that our future social care system is best able to support people to live their best lives.”
