Local government leaders have called on Labour to act to save social care following the party's thumping General Election victory.
Newly installed Local Government Association (LGA) chair Louise Gittins, who replaced Cllr Shaun Davies following his election as Telford MP, called for ‘a sustainable and long-term financial solution' so that councils can improve care for adults and children.
Cllr Gittins said councils were ‘under pressure like never before' with a funding gap of more than £6bn over the next two years.
‘We are delighted that many new MPs come from the local government family and have had first-hand experience of these acute pressures as councillors, which should mean that securing the future of our local services will be a top priority,' she added.
Sarah McClinton, president of ADASS, said it was time to ‘act now to save social care'.
She added: ‘We don't expect the Government to wave a magic wand, but we do need the political will to invest in a long-term plan to ensure good care is available to everyone, everywhere.'
The ADASS report, Time to act: a roadmap to reform care and support in England, focuses on 10 key areas for change: from improving housing options for those of us who are older or disabled and tackling the chronic social care staffing issues including pay and conditions, to supporting carers and making care more affordable.
Chief executive, Professor Martin Green, said Care England stood ‘ready to work with the new Government to change the approach to social care and to position our sector as an essential part of the national Infrastructure'.
The Liberal Democrats, who made record breaking gains in the General Election, called for an emergency budget before the end of July to increase investment in health and social care, including through more GPs, NHS dentists and cancer nurses.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said: ‘We have put health and care at the heart of our campaign, and we will put it at the top of the agenda in this Parliament too. That starts with our campaign for an emergency Health and Care Budget before the end of the month.
‘Every Liberal Democrat MP will be a champion for the NHS and a voice for carers. We will fight to fix the health and care crisis, so that you can see a doctor or a dentist when you need to, and so your loved ones get the high-quality care they need.'
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea called on Labour to prioritise a fair pay agreement for care workers and said the party's plans for a National Care Service would be a ‘game changer'.
