Investing in adult social care for people and communities

An open letter to the Government

What makes us happy and fulfilled? The answer to this question will be unique and personal to each of us. But if everyone shared their views, we would likely see some common themes emerge. Family and friendships, hobbies and interests, new experiences, work or volunteering. These, and the myriad other potential answers, are the things that make us feel human, alive and valued. They connect us to ourselves, to those around us and to the places in which we live.

Whether by luck or design, many of us will enjoy a life in which the opportunities for these connections to flourish will exist largely unimpeded. For others of us, different degrees of support may be required to maintain those connections. For some, the level of support required may be relatively low. But for others, a significant degree of on-going support may be needed. Adult social care covers this full spectrum and at its best – when properly resourced and organised – is an important means by which adults of all ages, with different reasons for drawing on care and support, are able to live their best life and do the things that matter most to them.

The value and reach of adult social care extends outward to society, too. It has a workforce that is bigger than that of the NHS. It contributes an estimated £68.1 billion to the national economy. It supports unpaid carers to care for loved ones, saving the state an estimated £184 billion per year. And it is critical to a well-functioning NHS, and the delivery of the Government’s ambitions for our health service.

Despite the best efforts of councils, care providers, the voluntary sector and the workforce, we all know that adult social care is not operating at its best. People who have cause to draw on support know that best of all. Report after report shows the consequences of under-investment over many years – on people, families, communities, businesses and other public services.

With the Spending Review now less than three weeks away, the Government has a crucial opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to the future of adult social care. It has already taken steps to address the longer-term future of care and support, through the creation of the Casey Commission. But resolving the long-term requires stability in the short-term and strong foundations from which to take forward meaningful reforms. 

In the past, governments have looked for savings and efficiencies to help plug immediate gaps. The scope for those is now extremely limited and the clear reality is that current funding levels are insufficient to tackle the challenges facing the sector, such as inflation, demography, workforce recruitment and retention, the inability to invest in prevention, and provider instability. Without significant new funding in the Spending Review, the coming months will likely be the most difficult we’ve seen in recent years for all parts of the sector and – most important of all – for people who draw on care and support.

If the Government gets fully behind adult social care, recognises its inherent value to us all, and sees funding for it as an investment rather than a cost, we can avoid the level of risk described above. It is an opportunity that people across the country cannot afford to see missed. We therefore call on the Treasury to work with the care and support sector to either find a way to mitigate the pressures on councils, providers and charities as described above, or use the forthcoming Spending Review to inject significant new funding into the system.

Looking further ahead, as organisations spanning the breadth of the adult social care and support sector, we stand ready to work with the Government, and on a cross-party basis, as equal partners, to bring about the longer-term changes that are needed to build a care and support system that enables everyone to live the life they want to lead.

Collaborating with the Government to ensure a secure and sustainable future for adult social care is an incredible opportunity to make a lasting impact. By working together and supporting one another, we can build a system that not only meets the needs of today but also lays a strong foundation for future generations. Teamwork and shared commitment are the keys to success in this vital endeavour.

Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair, Local Government Association (LGA)

Cllr Kevin Bentley, Conservative Group Leader and Senior Vice Chairman, LGA

Cllr Bev Craig, Labour Group Leader and Vice Chair, LGA

Cllr Joe Harris, Liberal Democrat Group Leader and Vice Chair, LGA

Cllr Marianne Overton MBE, Independent Group Leader and Vice Chair, LGA

Jess McGregor, President, Association of Directors of Adult Social Services

Robin Tuddenham, President, Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers

Maris Stratulis, National Director, BASW England, British Association of Social Workers

Riki Moody, Chief Officer, Gloucestershire Care Providers Association

Mike Padgham, Chair, Saint Cecilia’s Care Group

Karyn Kirkpatrick, Chief Executive, KeyRing Living Support Networks

Helen Walker, Chief Executive, Carers UK

James Lloyd, Director of Policy and Communication, Associated Retirement Community Operators

Dr Rhidian Hughes, Chief Executive, Voluntary Organisations Disability Group

Caroline Abrahams CBE, Charity Director, Age UK

David Smallacombe, Chief Executive, Care and Support West

Keiron Broadbent, Chief Executive, West Midlands Care Association

Pip Cannons, Chief Executive, Community Catalysts

Dr Jane Townson OBE, Chief Executive, Homecare Association

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive, Care England

Sarah Burslem, Chief Executive, MacIntyre

Andrea Wiggins, Chief Executive, Vibrance

Rachael Dodgson, Chief Executive, Dimensions

Pierre Falleth, Director, Milford Care and Vice Chair, Derbyshire Care Providers Association

David Brindle, Chair, Ambient Support

Jackie O’Sullivan, Executive Director of Strategy and Influence, Mencap

Melanie Weatherley MBE, Co-Chair, Care Association Alliance and Chair, Lincolnshire Care Association

Victoria Buyer, England Director (Interim), ARC

Caroline Abrahams CBE, Jackie O’Sullivan, Emily Holzhausen CBE, Co-Chairs, Care and Support Alliance

Ann Taylor, Chair, Kent Integrated Care Alliance

Professor Vic Rayner OBE, Chief Executive, National Care Forum

Erica Lockhart MBE, Chair, South East Social Care Alliance

Aisling Duffy, Chief Executive, Certitude

Karolina Gerlich, Chief Executive, Care Workers Charity

Jim Kane, Chief Executive, Community Integrated Care

Dania Hanif, Interim Chief Executive, Association of Mental Health Providers

Jack Marshall BEM, Scott Watkin BEM and Kate Chate, Co-Chairs elected members representatives, Learning Disability England

Andrew Beland, Chief Executive, Choice Support

Jeff Skipp, Chief Executive, Ability Housing Association

Craig Crowley, Chief Executive, Action Deafness

Maria Mills, Chief Executive, Active Prospects

Kerry Dearden, Chief Executive, Affinity Trust

David Coe, Chief Executive, AFK

Robert Shanahan, Chief Executive, Aspens

Gill Bryant, Chief Executive, Aurora Nexus

Sarah Butcher, Chief Executive, Autism at Kingwood

Jo Land, Chief Executive, Avenues

Azra Kirkby, Chief Executive, St Anne's Community Services

Ray Booth, Chief Executive, Barnet Mencap

Irene Sobowale, Chief Executive, Brainkind

Anna McEwen, Chief Executive, Bromley Mencap

Sara Thakkar, Chief Executive, Camphill Village Trust

Sarah Edwards, Chief Executive, Canterbury Oast Trust

Gareth Groves, Chief Executive, Chiltern Centre

Victoria Neish, Chief Executive, Coquet Trust

John Heritage, Chief Executive, David Lewis

Angela Murphy, Chief Executive, Fitzroy

Angela Duce, Chief Executive, Harpenden Mencap

Sarah Lantsbury, Chief Executive, Headway East London

Sally Daniels, Chief Executive Henshaws

Stephen Veevers, Chief Executive, Hft

Anna O'Mahony, Chief Executive, Hollybank Trust

Ruth Gorman, Chief Executive, Imagine Act and Succeed

Caroline Collier, Chief Executive, Inclusion Barnett

Gabby Machell, Chief Executive, Learning Disability Network London

Valerie Waby, Chief Executive, Linkage Community Trust

Chris Hampton, Chief Executive, Look Ahead

Rachel Peacock, Chief Executive, Making Space

Hilary Crowhurst, Chief Executive, Milestones Trust

Caroline Stevens, Chief Executive, National Autistic Society

Diane Hesketh, Chief Executive, Natural Breaks

Jo Howell, Chief Executive, Northam Care Trust

Naomi Dickson, Chief Executive, Norwood

Tracey Bush, Chief Executive, One Fylde

Nicky Boland, Chief Executive, Outward

Sarah Miller, Chief Executive, Papworth Trust

Alison Cooper, Chief Executive, Parity for Disability

John Preston, Chief Executive, Percy Hedley Foundation

Rachel Law, Chief Executive, PossAbilities

Robin Bush, Chief Executive, Remarkable Autism

Lisa Hopkins, Chief Executive, SeeAbility

James Watson-O'Neill, Chief Executive, Sense

Neil Blanchard, Chief Executive, Southdown

Jill Rankin, Chief Executive, St Elizabeth's

Emma Morris, Chief Executive, Stockdales

Sue Livett, Chief Executive, The Aldingbourne Trust

Andrew Willetts, Chief Executive, The Orpheus Centre

Julie Bass, Chief Executive, Turning Point

Richard Jones, Chief Executive, VoiceAbility

Holly Spiers, Chief Executive, Walsingham Support

Sam Monaghan, Chief Executive, MHA

Jo Howes, Chief Executive, Wiltshire Care Partnership

David Crosby, Chief Officer, Partners in Care