The government’s adult social care reforms have been criticised for failing to tackle the sector’s immediate problems and are like “groundhog day” for care workers.
A white paper released yesterday set out plans for how £1bn will be spent over the next three years to improve the lives of those who receive care – as well as their families and carers.
The plans are part of the Conservative government’s wider social care plans, backed by £5.4bn, which provide a limit to the cost of care for everyone in the adult social care system.
However, this limit has been widely criticised by representatives across the political spectrum including Tory MPs and peers, for preserving the wealth of the richest while those with the fewest assets face losing the most.
The improvements published in the paper, funded through the 1.25% Health and Social Care levy, will help pay for:
- The range and amount of new supported housing to be increased through £300m in housing investment, to help local authorities offer greater choice, care and support, alongside a new practical service to make repairs and changes in peoples’ homes;
- New technology and digitisation backed by at least £150m to improve care quality and safety, support independent living and allow staff to provide focused care where required;
- £500m invested in the 1.5 million strong adult social care workforce to help them progress in their careers with training and qualifications while providing an better standard of care. This will help recognise their valued skills and prioritise their wellbeing with greater support for their mental health.
Steps fail to go fast or far enough
But commenting on the reforms, Sally Warren, director of policy at The King’s Fund, said they failed to match the ambition set out by the prime minister and urgency of change which the people who draw on care and support expect to see.
“The overall vision in the white paper is the right one and if delivered could significantly improve the experience of people receiving care and those who work in the sector,” she said.
“However, the steps outlined don’t go fast or far enough to achieve this vision and the funding allocated to deliver it is insufficient. In particular, although there are some welcome commitments on training and skills for staff, there is little to tackle poor workforce pay and conditions and high vacancy levels in the sector.
“There are some positive proposals such as the focus on giving higher priority to developing better options for housing – an area that has been under-developed in the UK until now but has the potential to make a significant difference to supporting people to live independently in their communities.”
Warren also warned there was nothing in the proposals to deal with some of the most urgent and immediate problems currently facing the sector including high levels of unmet need and a fragile provider market.
“There is also a lack of new, practical measures to empower people to have personal choice and control over the care they receive,” she added.
“Far from fixing social care as the prime minister promised, the government’s plans mean social care services will continue to face significant challenges in supporting people who rely on them to live independent and fulfilling lives.”
Groundhog day
Rachel Harrison, national officer at the GMB, described the reforms as being like “groundhog day”.
“Care workers have been waiting for the Government’s plan for years – since before the last election. Now they’re being told they have to wait even longer for any substantial reforms,” she said.
“You don’t have to be Einstein to realise addressing pay for carers is the absolute number one priority to tackle the catastrophic understaffing crisis – a crisis which will only get worse.
“Care workers can’t survive on poverty pay or unfilled promises by a government refusing to recognise the highly skilled workforce. That’s why GMB is campaigning for a £15 an hour minimum for care workers,” she added.
The white paper also included plans for:
- £70m to help local authorities and improve the delivery and standard of care;
- An increase to the upper limit of the Disabled Facilities Grant for home adaptations such as stairlifts, wet rooms and home technologies to allow people to live where they want to and increase the options for care;
- Up to £25m to work with the sector to kickstart a change in the services provided to support unpaid carers, to boost support and increase access to respite services giving them much needed support and a break;
- A new national website to provide easily accessible information for the public on social care and at least £5m to pilot new ways to help people understand and access the care and support available.