Care England call for action to begin now on areas including financial sustainability and workforce reform
Care provider leaders have urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to act now to improve commissioning, workforce reform, regulation, NHS integration and the financial sustainability of care following his speech setting out plans for a National Care Service.
Care England said it welcomed Mr Burnham’s drive to resolve the issues facing adult social care rather than “ducking” them, but warned action is needed in the current parliament to prepare the ground – something which the prime minister said he and Health Secretary Yvette Cooper would work on.
The provider body also called for reforms to be “shaped by what works for people, not by ideological preferences for who provides their care.
Care England chief executive Professor Martin Green added: “We support broader access, sustainable funding and better outcomes. We also need a system that encourages innovation, makes the best use of public money and recognises the expertise and capacity that already exist across the sector.”
In his Labour Party Conference speech in Liverpool yesterday, Mr Burnham said a future National Care Service would be free at the point of use, protect people's homes and savings from care costs, end care charges being paid from the basic state pension and provide greater recognition for care workers - funded through changes to the state pension triple lock and informed by the ongoing Casey review.
However, Mr Burnham today revealed his plans for state funded care would not cover the cost of care homes.
In a BBC interview aired this morning, the Prime Minister said the National Care Service would not cover “bed and board” and appeared to suggest homes would not be needed if personal care was improved.
Referring to his late fathers care needs, he said his move into a care home was only necessary because the personal care that was available to be provided in his own home was not adequate for his needs.
Not-for-profit providers welcome focus on "people not profit"
The National Care Forum also welcomed Burnham's commitment to social care reform and his emphasis on care being delivered for "people, not profit".
Liz Jones, deputy chief executive and policy director at the National Care Forum, said it was "very refreshing" to hear the Prime Minister describe care as an essential public service and make reform a central government priority.
Ms Jones also welcomed Mr Burnham's recognition of care workers and his commitment to improving pay, terms and conditions, adding that the sector could play a significant role in supporting economic growth and employment opportunities for young people.
She also highlighted the importance of the Casey Commission's recommendations, saying public responses to its currently ongoing Big Conversation on Care exercise would be "of intrinsic importance" as plans for a National Care Service are developed.
Meanwhile, the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) chair Baroness Glenys Thornton said the proposed National Care Service should be rooted in fairness, independence and wellbeing, and must support people of all ages, including working-age adults who rely on care and support, and argued that the Casey Commission should build on the expertise of people with lived experience, professionals and sector organisations.
