Proposals on the future of adult social care, including a
timetable for reform, should be brought forward by the new Health
and Social Care Secretary in the
next two weeks, before Parliament rises for the summer.
Ahead of his first major speech to over
1800 delegates at today’s LGA Annual Conference, councils say the
new Secretary of State is ideally placed to help find a
long-term, sustainable solution for the future of care and
support, given his previous roles as both Chancellor and as
Housing, Communities and Local Government
Secretary.
The LGA, which represents councils in
England, has reiterated its calls as Parliamentary recess
approaches on 22 July which would allow valuable time for MPs,
councils and other interested parties to consider new proposals
and respond to them ahead of future discussions and an eventual
set of final decisions.
COVID-19 has reinforced the urgent need
for long-term reform of adult social care so that adults of all
ages are best able to live the lives they want to lead. It is
vital that reforms provide long term sustainable funding that
grows in line with demand for support, as well as investment to
tackle the funding gap between the cost of providing care and
what councils pay.
The LGA said an ambitious plan for social
care and support should help pave the way to a more sustainably
and adequately funded system, built around what people want and
need from their care so they are in firmly in control of their
lives and share power as equals. To achieve this, a future care
and support system should work closely with communities and the
NHS to invest in prevention, reduce health inequalities and turbo
charge innovation in how care is designed and delivered, examples
of which have come to the fore during the
pandemic.
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the
LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board,
said:
“Social care has been on the frontline
throughout the pandemic, supporting people of all ages to be safe
and well in the most extremely challenging of
circumstances.
“Despite the extraordinary commitment and
endeavours of all those who work in and draw upon social care, we
are still waiting to see what government will produce in its
proposals for a long-term, sustainable funding solution and a
vision for a care and support system that is fit for the
21st century.
“We also face a huge recruitment and
retention crisis in the care workforce, with more than 100,000
vacancies and action urgently needed on pay, conditions,
professionalisation, skills and
training.
“Any proposals should set out a positive
vision for what the future of care and support should be. Social
care is not just valuable in its own right, but can play an
integral part in building back better from the pandemic in
flourishing and connected communities, where people are able to
live the lives they want to lead.
“Our new Secretary of State has the
unique perspective of previously being in charge of both the
Treasury and at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local
Government, which we believe puts him in an excellent position to
finally bring forward these long-awaited proposals before recess
and help secure the future of social care for
all.”
