Pledge to ‘transform’ social care held back until 2028

The government has announced it will set up an independent commission to look at adult social care reform.

Baroness Casey will lead the commission to assess the critical issues facing the sector and will recommend changes.

However, concerns have been raised over the timescales. The commission will not produce its final report until 2028, which many believe is too long to wait.

Surrey Care Association CEO Nicola McLeish said: ‘We are concerned that the announcement makes reference to care staff taking on further responsibilities in their day to day jobs to ease the burden on the NHS.

Once again this shows a lack of understanding of the role of social care and the pressures we are already under.’

There has been continuing debate on the length of time that the process will take over the last few days. You can find links to coverage below.

Added Nicola: ‘Our very real concern is that the government are not in tune with our sector and that any additional grant monies will not be enough. We are worried that it will not trickle down to independent social care providers, but that local authorities will use it to bolster their own social care workforce and the chances of a meaningful increase in rates for local authority funded care remain low.’

Read more here:

• 6 January Today Programme: report on commission timescales – also listen from 08.20am
• 4 January Today Programme: interview with Layla Moran, ASC Select Committee – listen from 08.20am
• Ministers plan biggest shake-up of adult social care in England for decades | The Guardian
• Streeting defends timescale for social care reform | BBC
• Social care reform unveiled – but not for another three years | The Independent
• Long-term social care reform unlikely before 2028, government says | ITV News
• Health Secretary: ‘We need to reform our social care’ | News UK Video News | Sky News
• Starmer’s social care plan held back until 2028 | The Telegraph