Six former health and social care ministers are backing proposals to reform social care in the absence of delayed Government plans.
The proposals, by the Future Social Care Coalition (FSCC), are part of a new framework for social care.
In addition to support from employers, trade unions and care alliances, the plan has received cross-party approval from six former ministers. These include the former Labour health secretary Andy Burnham, the Liberal Democrats’ former community and social care minister Sir Norman Lamb, and Alistair Burt, former Conservative community and social care minister.
The framework comes as Government proposals for wider reform of the sector remain delayed due to the pandemic. Boris Johnson promised these two years ago when he was elected to Downing Street.
A ‘do or die’ meeting on social care between the Prime Minister, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Matt Hancock was reportedly postponed this week. It had been due to take place on Monday.
Proposals for change
Signatories are calling for the Government to adopt 12 key recommendations.
These include an increase in care worker pay to the real living wage level. This could see Londoners earning up to an extra £3,800 a year.
They are also calling for a charter of good practice to guarantee a healthy and safe national workforce.
We believe it’s time for a fair deal for #SocialCare.
Join @The_FSCC Summer Summit: Get Social Care Done, tomorrow, to find out why. https://t.co/ffZAkPjwwj
Find out why this is important to us at NCHA: https://t.co/MojQOW5MVf#TimeForAFairDeal @hollydagnall pic.twitter.com/BpoPAGDA5x
— NCHA (@NottsCommHA) June 23, 2021
Further details focus on how the Government will help create “national pride” in the sector. For example, by creating a Royal College for Social Care and a day recognising those who work in the sector.
The framework will be launched at the FSCC’s summit on Thursday. Key figures in social care are set to be in attendance, including former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, shadow social care minister Liz Kendall and Care England chief executive Professor Martin Green.
Phil Hope, former minister for care services and FSCC co-chair, said the plan was developed with all parts of the sector so “no social care worker is left behind”.
He said: “Covid has highlighted many of the long-term problems that continue to blight social care, particularly the need for an immediate, substantial and sustained injection of funding, alongside long-overdue reform of the sector.
“Many people will need social care at some point in their lives, which is why we need to act now to overhaul how the sector, and its workforce, is treated.
“That is why it is so bitterly disappointing to hear that plans for a high-level Government meeting to progress plans for reform have been deferred. Now is the time to get social care done.”
The government responds
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “The social care sector has been an essential and valued part of the front line response to the pandemic and we have sought to protect the workforce and those receiving social care, providing almost £1.8 billion for the sector including infection prevention, control measures and prioritised the sector for the vaccine.
“We are committed to the sustainable improvement of the adult social care system and we will bring forward proposals later this year to ensure every person receives the care they need, provided with the dignity they deserve.”
