Adult social care feels largely invisible and ignored by successive governments, the media and wider society. The consequence has been underfunding and rationing – only supporting those with greatest need and cutting existing care support. But while underfunding is a real problem social care has also been under-imagined.
We see out of date care being purchased from a very limited ‘market' or commissioned in large block contracts, far away from individuals having choice and control over their support. For many disabled and older people this means that their ability to live their life in the way they want is curtailed.
Labour must co-produce reform with those who draw on social care themselves. We have in the past been left out of such discussions when we are the ones directly impacted
At Social Care Future our vision is simple. We all want to live in the place we call home with the people and things that we love, in communities where we look out for one another, doing the things that matter to us. This is what we should all be able to have, even if we need some support weaved around us to achieve it. This is what we as a movement, made up of people who draw on social care, workers, ‘sector' organisations, support providers, academics and others, continue to try to get to.
While there is a clear need for stabilisation, this long-term reform is vital. If Labour is serious about its shifts for the NHS, of illness to prevention and hospital to community, this must be achieved alongside social care that is about finding solutions with people, not simply providing services. This will mean people live the lives they want, communities thrive, and local economies are bolstered. Social care, properly resourced and reformed, will contribute across the Government's wider missions.
So how do we get there and what should the Government do next?
The good news is we aren't starting from scratch. While true that many people are not experiencing good social care, there are pockets of great practice and innovation and increasing consensus for the way forward. Last year the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services commissioned a roadmap for reform called Time to Act which was widely welcomed. It started with our vision and identified actions needed by different players (including government) to progress toward it.
Following publication, the Time to Act Reform Board was formed, bringing together groups leading change – delivery organisations, democratically accountable local councils, leading policy thinkers and (crucially and unusually) people with reason to draw on care and support. Collectively and individually we are not just calling for change, we are already making it happen and we can show you the places this is working already.
So our first ask of Labour is to work with us, use our combined knowledge, learning and examples of where things are being done differently producing great results. Don't reinvent the vision or spend months creating complex plans. Borrow ours and work with us to increase the rate of change and support it to start in other areas.
With Government help there are things we can start now. For example Social Care Future has been exploring the ‘plumbing and wiring' – those elements of regulation, rules and systems that just get in the way of progress – and we have proposals for quick action to remove barriers to change.
Labour must co-produce reform with those who draw on social care themselves. We have in the past been left out of such discussions when we are the ones directly impacted. More than that we are experts, not only in our experience of social care, but the wider system. We were very encouraged that the new care minister, Stephen Kinnock, met a group of us who draw on social care or are family carers and agreed to an ongoing relationship. This needs to go beyond consulting or feedback to genuine working together and at all stages of development and levels of the Department of Health and Social Care.
And finally, we would ask Labour to be brave. Doing more of what we do now or making small tweaks won't achieve the results and lives for people that we need as a society. These conversations and decisions have been ducked for too long and now with Labour hoping to have at least two terms, they have a chance to make a real, positive difference and be the ones to finally grasp social care.
Dr Anna Severwright OBE and Martin Routledge are convenors of Social Care Future
