UK | Care England said it would be watching the Government closely following reform suggestions by the Health and Social Care Committee Report.
Care England said it warmly welcomed the government’s formal response to the Health and Social Care Committee report, Adult Social Care Reform: The Cost of Inaction. The response officially acknowledges the pressing challenges facing our sector and recognises adult social care’s transformative value to individuals, communities, the NHS, and the national economy.
Key Government commitments included a GBP 3.7 billion funding boost to local authorities, GBP 172 million uplift to the Disabled Facilities Grant, enabling approximately 15,000 additional home adaptations, an increase to Carer’s Allowance by GBP 2,000, the introduction of Fair Pay Agreement legislation for care workers, and the integration of plans through the Better Care Fund, with GBP 9 billion allocated for 2025 to 2026.
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said that it was pleasing to see the government responding seriously to the Committee’s warnings, but pledges must turn into action.
“The cost of inaction is already mounting from unmet need and workforce strain to NHS pressures and fraying local authority budgets. It’s vital that the Casey Commission now proceeds with urgency, transparency, and ambition.”
Care England said it would be watching closely to various areas. It said the Committee urged annual reporting on unmet social care needs, and Care England will push for clear methodology and real-time data to underpin accountability.
Every policy affecting the workforce or funding must include rigorous cross-government assessments to guard against hidden costs or unintended consequences in the sector.
To make the economic case for reform, Care England argued the government must commission independent research into the true cost of the status quo across individuals, families, local councils, the NHS, providers, and wider society. Implementation of Fair Pay Agreements and career progression pathways must also proceed swiftly to retain staff and lift care standards.
Care England called for the Commission (chaired by Baroness Casey) to prioritise alignment with the NHS’s 10-Year Health Plan and produce interim recommendations by mid‑2026.
“Reform won’t happen overnight, but the time to act is now. Our sector is resilient, but only if properly funded, supported, and trusted,” said Professor Greene.
“Care England stands ready to work with government, local authorities, the NHS, and the Casey Commission to turn commitments into real change for the people we support, the workforce, and the nation.”
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