Labour has announced plans to reform adult social care if it wins the next election.
Plans to improve the UK’s adult social care sector, which is currently in a state of crisis, include increased pay for care workers, a better range of free support and £50 a week for those needing financial aid.
A roadmap to address failings in the adult social care sector has been set out in a recent report by the Fabian Society named ‘Support Guaranteed: The Roadmap to a National Care Service’.
The report was published after it was requested by the shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting and outlines the steps needed to make significant and necessary changes.
Key takeaways include:
The need for a National Care Service which would serve and support everyone who needs it.
Recognises urgency to ‘fix’ adult social care e.g. staffing shortages, low pay and high demand - all of which have led to service users receiving insufficient care.
Proposes government increase funding for the sector, year-by-year over the next decade.
What would the National Care Service provide?
The report says the service aims to provide the following to those who need it (non-exhaustive list):
Extra support to carers
Improve communication between carers and local authorities
Ensure carers have sufficient time off
Getting people active
Help service users live more independently
Improve housing conditions for those in care
Rehabilitation services
Get people the care they need in a timely manner
If it goes ahead, the National Care Service would unite national government, local councils and contracted care providers under one umbrella.
Andrew Harrop, the general secretary of the Fabian Society, said: “This comprehensive plan for a national care service for England is an ambitious roadmap for solving one of the country’s most significant and enduring social challenges.”
Streeting added: “This report is an important contribution to the debate on our social care system. Labour is committed to ensuring better terms and conditions, proper training and fair pay for care workers, with national standards guaranteeing good quality care, as the first steps to building a national care service.”
In the meantime, if your local authority is in need of staffing solutions give the Imperium team a call on 0203 8929 344 or email us at info@imperiumsolutions.co.uk.
Comments