Responding to the publication of the Government’s white paper on
adult social care reform, Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the
Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said
“This much-anticipated white paper sets out a positive vision for
the future of adult social care and it is right that it has been
co-produced with and alongside people who draw on care and
support. It is also encouraging to see the Care Act is the
foundation upon which these reforms will be built, particularly
the emphasis on housing, greater recognition of the workforce and
skills, and prevention, action on all of which will improve the
quality and experience of people who draw on social care.
“We need to balance the aspirations and expectations set out in
this paper against the wider reality of the funding backdrop
against which councils and care providers are operating, which is
insufficient to meet current and rising demand. While councils
share the Government’s ambition and want nothing more than to
deliver it, they will need a substantially bigger share of the
new Health and Social Care Levy for that to happen.
“Addressing unmet and under-met need, tackling rising pressures,
retaining hard working care staff, and investing more in
prevention are all areas which need investment now, if we are to
significantly bolster core services. This is the essential
platform which is needed to fully realise the long-term positive
vision set out in this white paper.
“Unless these can be urgently addressed as an immediate priority,
any long-term proposals for social care – including those in the
white paper backed by funding to kick-start change and innovation
– will be set up to fail because core services themselves will
not be available or sustainable. Without such investment, public
expectations will be unfairly raised.
“Questions also remain about whether the funding allocated for
the various major charging reforms, including for the
introduction and running of the care cost cap and councils paying
providers a ‘fair rate of care’, will be enough. Funding
shortfalls impact directly on those who draw on care and support
now, as well as those who will do so in future. The Government
has been ambitious with its vision and now needs to match this
ambition with the necessary funding, to turn it into reality.”
