Responding to today’s Government announcement that it will
publish a social care Green Paper in summer 2018, Margaret
Willcox, President of the Association of Directors of Adult
Social Services (ADASS), said:
“We are pleased that Government has committed to publishing the
long-awaited Green Paper on social care next summer, that it will
be subject to public consultation, and that independent experts
and sector stakeholders will be involved in helping to develop it
for the benefit of older and disabled people.
“Adult social care helps improve people’s health and wellbeing,
as well as their independence, choice and control so they can
lead as fulfilling lives as possible. It is right that all
members of society, many of whom are likely to need some form of
care in their lives, will have a say on the future funding of
care and delivery of care services.
“We are also encouraged that the Government will undertake a
parallel programme of work focusing on issues for working-age
adults, as financial pressures due to the increasing care
needs of younger adults with disabilities or mental health
problems are now greater than those due to supporting older
people,which our Budget survey highlighted this year.
“This Paper presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to reform
adult social care for everyone who needs it and to address the
issue of funding after 2020 when the extra £2 billion for social
care runs out.
“Adult social care cannot continue without sufficient and
sustainable resources. The sooner long-term, sustainable funding
reforms are established to address the perilous state of adult
social care – including overspent council budgets, care providers
closing, contracts being handed back to councils and an increase
in quality challenges - the sooner the sector can help provide
reliable, personal and dignified care to the increasing number of
people of all ages who need and deserve it.”
