The Independent Care Group today calls on the new Government to work together with the social care sector to bring about life-changing reform to the way the country looks after older, vulnerable and disabled adults.
The ICG has written to congratulate new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and to urge him to sit down with care providers to tackle the crisis in the sector, straight away.
ICG Chair Mike Padgham said: “We congratulate Labour on an historic and impressive victory and know that as the new Government begins today there is no better time to begin vital and long-overdue reform of adult social care.
“We have therefore written to Sir Keir Starmer and to Wes Streeting, who we anticipate will be the new health secretary, inviting them to engage with the social care sector to begin the challenge of transforming the sector and improving people’s lives.”
In his letter Mr Padgham says:
“I know there will be a million vital issues commanding your attention during these early days of your administration.“I do, however, wish to make the case for social care to be placed at the top of those priorities and to invite you and your ministers to engage with the sector on urgent reform.“After some 30 years of neglect, the care of older, vulnerable and disabled people in this country cannot wait any longer.
“The statistics are well known: 1.6m people unable to access the care they need, 152,000 vacancies in the social care sector and providers leaving the market at an alarming rate.“Some 80% of us will need social care in our lifetime and to cope with ever-increasing demand, we will need a further 440,000 social care workers in the next 11 years.
“Social care providers in the independent sector stand ready and able to provide the Government with all the help, support, information and suggestions you might need to tackle the crisis.
"All we ask is the opportunity to meet with and engage with you to help begin the task.”
In its manifesto, the ICG called for a National Care Service, bringing NHS healthcare and social care under one roof, allied to greater investment in the sector and better recognition and reward for the workforce. It wants to see care provided for the 1.6m people who currently can’t access it and dementia treated like other serious conditions like heart disease and cancer and its treatment funded through the NHS.
The ICG says the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and staff shortages followed years of neglect and under-funding by politicians from all parties and combined to leave the sector in deep crisis.