Care England, the largest representative body of independent
adult social care providers, has expressed disappointment that
adult social care did not receive due recognition in the
Chancellor’s Budget today.
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care
England, says:
"Whilst there are some really welcome policies in the Budget
which may in time have tangible impacts upon employment and
investment, we are disappointed that social care, the real front
line, hasn’t received the support that it so needs so badly. This
Budget still resembled an emergency one rather than one that
provided any long term assurance for the sector”.
Care England has been calling for a ‘1948 moment’ to help the
sector re-boot, recover and triumph. The Budget however failed to
recognise the changing cost and operational reality that has been
imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Neither did it show
support for the existing and potential role which the adult
social care sector plays as a valuable employer, comparable to
the size of the NHS, in the UK’s job market. Neither did it
counterbalance the desperate need for an insurance strategy for
the sector.
Martin Green continues:
“A ten year plan akin to that of the NHS backed by £7 billion
injection into the adult social care would have been a great help
to the sector, a sector which is a big part of the national
infrastructure. Care England will continue to put forward the
sector’s case and remind the Prime Minister of his commitment to
reforming the sector”.
