Increase in funding is not enough to fix the problems with Social Care

It’s been 2 years since Boris Johnson promised to fix social care and at the start of this week there were rumours that he was due to make a major announcement on additional funding for Social Care, coming from a rise in National Insurance however as the week has gone on, it now looks more likely that this announcement will come in the Autumn instead. Everyone working in social care will hold their breath and cross their fingers until then.

Why is an increase in funding not enough?

Care England have launched their vision for a long term and sustainable future for adult social care that will be to the benefit of all citizens and the economy: We Care For England and they point out that funding is not enough to create meaningful reform.

The vision calls on the Government to deliver a new system of support in which health and social care systems act in a coordinated fashion focused around the person and are financed adequately and appropriately. They are also calling on a ten-year workforce plan just as other leaders in the adult Social Care sector called for on the 20^th July. 

The We Care For England vision is premised around five key themes, each of which presents a key ask of government.

• Sustainability - Care England agrees with the Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee's call for £7bn annual increase in social care funding as a starting point for reform.
• Meaningful life - Quality service provision must be enabled so that people in need live with comfort, dignity and choice. 
• People - The sector requires a ten-year workforce plan, akin to that of the NHS, where career progression, pay and rewards career are identified.
• Integration - Bridging the gap between health and social care stretches beyond funding integration, but also encompasses reforming commissioning practice, data and information practice and service delivery.
• Innovation and investment - Providers need certainty about funding to invest in wider community development. This investment must be for providers of both state-funded and privately financed care. 

We Care For England represents a foundation for meaningful reform. Professor Martin Green, Chief Executive of Care England has submitted Care England’s Vision: We Care For England to the Prime Minister and has pledged to be ready and waiting to help Government reach a definitive solution on Social Care reform.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said:

“Successive governments have promised social care reform but have not delivered. We Care For England represents the foundation for a long-term and sustainable future for adult social care that will be to the benefit of all citizens and the economy. The vision calls on the Government to deliver a new system of support in which health and social care systems act in a coordinated fashion focused around the person and are financed adequately and appropriately.

“The sector is brimming with innovation, energy and commitment which Care England, with the help of its members, can harness. Care England has submitted this vision to the Prime Minister, along with other key policymakers. We are ready and waiting to help Government reach a definitive solution.”