Care leaders have responded to the Department of Health and Social Care’s announcement of an Independent Commission into Social Care, to be chaired by Baroness Louise Casey.
Split over two phases, the commission will set out a vision for adult social care, with recommended measures and a roadmap for delivery. The first phase, reporting in mid-2026, will identify the critical issues facing adult social care and set out recommendations for effective reform and improvement in the medium term. The second phase, reporting by 2028, will make longer-term recommendations for the transformation of adult social care.
Care England chief executive Professor Martin Green OBE said: “This announcement acknowledges the decade-long crisis in social care, but it risks becoming yet another report that gathers dust while the sector crumbles. Care providers are doing their utmost to deliver essential care to society's most vulnerable, yet the challenges they face only keep increasing. While the sector has demonstrated resilience, its repeated calls for help have been ignored, as the government continues to prioritise reforming the NHS to achieve goals only a fully functioning adult social care system could deliver.
“This commission will simply confirm what we already know – how many more reports must we endure before action is taken? The harm caused by the government’s inaction is already deep, and the consequences for those who currently draw on care will be irreparable if immediate intervention is not forthcoming. Waiting until 2028 is not an option. The people in care today cannot afford to wait any longer – their lives depend on action now. By the time this commission will conclude, any recommendations will likely be delayed until a new Parliament is in place, risking not just a missed opportunity to support individuals now, but potential for a shift in priorities that could leave the sector without the action it so desperately needs.
“We are ready to work alongside Baroness Casey and the government to turn this commission into a catalyst for genuine change. But let’s be clear: the status quo is no longer an option. Every day without action means more vulnerable people are left without the care they urgently need now, while the already overwhelming pressures on the NHS continue to intensify.
“This isn’t about politics; it’s about people, and we need the government to act now. Together, we can fix social care, but we must start today, not tomorrow.”
NCF CEO Vic Rayner commented: “We welcome the announcement of an independent commission into adult social care to be chaired by Baroness Casey which indicates the beginning of long-term reform for the sector and the development of a National Care Service. It is crucial that the commission includes the voices of people who draw on care and support and those who work tirelessly to deliver it. Only by hearing from those with the biggest stake in a well-functioning and resourced social care system will the commission be successful in its mission of delivering consistency of care that addresses the ongoing needs of older and disabled people. However, the timeframe for the commission must be shorter and we urge Baroness Casey to bring forward the work so these much needed changes can be seen within two years.
“Whilst the commission makes ready, the need for urgent support for the sector continues. The commission will need to focus on the long term; however, it is imperative that the secretary of state and the wider government understand that the pressures laid bare across the social care sector cannot wait. Building a social care system fit for the future can only be achieved by ensuring it is built on solid ground.”
Layla Moran MP, chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, said: “This announcement from the government on a commission to look at social care is welcome; however, this cannot be an exercise in kicking the can down the road. We urge bravery and courage from the government and all political parties to work together to act boldly and urgently.
“We are concerned that any further delay perpetuates the hardship for individuals and their families, as well as the cost to the NHS and local authorities.”
