December 2024
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This conference examined key priorities for social care reform in England.
Key stakeholders and policymakers discussed strategic priorities for the new Government, following the Health and Social Care Secretary’s pledge to create a 10-year plan for social care, which would run alongside the 10-year plan for the NHS.
The conference took place following the announcement of government support for local authority services in the Budget, including at least £600m in new grant funding for social care, and an £86m increase to the Disabled Facilities Grant. Delegates also discussed implications of the national insurance rise for employer contributions on service providers, as the Liberal Democrats call for an exemption for the social care sector.
Sessions considered CQC’s recently published State of Health and Social Care 2023/24 report, which underlined issues facing the social care sector, including rising demand, delayed hospital discharges, staffing shortages and regional inequalities affecting care access. The conference took place following the launch of the new Health and Social Care Select Committee inquiry on adult social care reform, focusing on the cost of inaction.
Delegates also discussed the Government’s plan to create a National Care Service, which aims to address geographic inequalities in care, as the Minister for Care outlines a vision for a locally-delivered service governed by national standards. Strategies for the design and implementation of the service, including its scope, remit and governance, were also explored. Sessions assessed frameworks for effective coordination and collaboration between health and care leaders, care providers, and third sector organisations, considering the roles of unpaid carers and local authorities.
Further planned discussion focused on priorities for funding following the new Government's decision to abandon the cap on care costs. Attendees considered approaches to tackling inconsistencies across care providers, examining latest thinking and options for regulation, governance, and accountability for standards and levels of care.
We expected discussion to draw on recommendations in Skills for Care’s A workforce strategy for adult social care in England, looking at strategies for improving attraction and retention to address shortages in the care workforce, including pay, conditions and esteem, as well as priorities for staff training and improving standards of care. Delegates also explored ways forward following Skills for Care’s The state of the adult social care sector and workforce in England report, which further highlights staffing shortages, reliance on costly agency workers, increasing financial pressures on councils, and declining domestic recruitment and retention figures.
Delegates considered implications for the social care sector of key provisions in the recently-published Employment Rights Bill, including the creation of an Adult Social Care Negotiating Body, the implementation of social care pay agreements, and tackling zero hours contracts. Discussion was also expected on the funding and other resources that would be needed to enable providers to implement these changes.
The agenda included discussions on improving independent living and support for unpaid carers, recognising their central role in the social care system. Attendees assessed strategies for enhancing public awareness of eligibility and rights to care, and approaches to improving access and reducing inequalities.
With the impact of social care deficiencies highlighted in Lord Darzi’s recent Independent Investigation of the NHS in England, the conference considered collaboration and partnership with NHS hospitals to improve patient discharge and alleviate pressures on the NHS. Sessions also explored the adoption of innovation and next steps for the use of digital technologies in social care.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- 10-year plan for social care: cross-government agreement - addressing key challenges - alignment with the 10 year plan for the NHS
- National Care Service: key considerations for design and implementation - addressing geographic inequalities - achieving consistent care standards
- funding:
- impact of scrapping the care cap - latest thinking on options for sustainable funding models
- future frameworks for central and local government funding - next steps following the reforms proposed by the Employment Rights Bill
- workforce:
- priority areas for improvements in pay and conditions - implementing the Employment Rights Bill - assessing Skills for Care’s recommendations
- workforce planning - strategies for recruitment and retention - supporting staff training and development
- coordination: enhancing collaboration between social care and health services - reducing delayed discharges - what will be needed to realise the neighbourhood health service vision
- regulation and oversight: priorities for CQC and addressing concerns regarding effectiveness - improving inspection consistency - accountability for care standards
- unpaid carers: developing a fresh approach - parity of esteem and carers as equal partners - options and initiatives in creating effective support mechanisms
- innovation: priority areas where technology could improve service delivery - opportunities and issues for adoption of digital tools in social care - exploring telecare and wider innovations
- access and inequalities: enhancing public awareness of care eligibility - reducing disparities - improving access to services
- governance and collaboration: balancing national standards with local autonomy - roles of local authorities and care providers - effective coordination
All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those that attended include parliamentary pass-holders from both Houses of Parliament and officials from DHSC; CQC; DWP; MHRA; MOJ; DSIT; and GLD.
