Select Committee · Health and Social Care Committee

Social care: funding and workforce

Status: Closed Opened: 10 Mar 2020 Closed: 26 Oct 2021 20 recommendations 1 conclusion 1 report

The reopened Social care: funding and workforce inquiry seeks to establish how much extra money would need to be spent by government in each of the next five years to counteract the impact of a shortage of care on the NHS. Shortages in the social care workforce and what solutions need to be found to … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - Social care: funding and workforce HC 206 22 Oct 2020 21 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

5 items
1 Recommendation Third Report - Social care: funding and… Accepted

The case for making a sustained investment in social care has never been stronger– the...

The case for making a sustained investment in social care has never been stronger– the toll the pandemic has taken on this sector means that social care is no longer a hidden problem, but one that the country as a whole understands. We urge the Government to now address this … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the urgency for sustained investment, announcing over £1 billion of additional funding for social care in FY 21/22, alongside over £3 billion in additional support for councils to manage COVID-19 impacts. It states it will keep the need for further funding under …
Read full response →
Department of Health and Social Care
2 Recommendation Third Report - Social care: funding and… Accepted

It is clear from the evidence we have heard that funding shortfalls are having a...

It is clear from the evidence we have heard that funding shortfalls are having a serious negative impact on the lives of those who use the social care system, as well impacting the pay levels of the workforce and threatening the sustainability of the care market. An immediate funding increase … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government has accepted this recommendation by committing over £1 billion of additional funding for social care in FY 21/22, alongside over £3 billion in additional support for COVID-19 impacts for local authorities.
Read full response →
Department of Health and Social Care
6 Recommendation Third Report - Social care: funding and… Accepted

It is vital that the supply of PPE to social care providers is protected in...

It is vital that the supply of PPE to social care providers is protected in the event of any future surges of coronavirus so that providers can be confident in their access to PPE. (Paragraph 43) Social care: funding and workforce 35

Government response AI summary
The government states it has already ensured an emergency supply of PPE is in place, extended free provision for social care until June 2021, developed emergency access routes, and is focused on building a resilient future supply.
Read full response →
Department of Health and Social Care
7 Recommendation Third Report - Social care: funding and… Accepted

The Government must ensure that standards for weekly testing for care home staff are maintained...

The Government must ensure that standards for weekly testing for care home staff are maintained including rapid turnaround times and that regular data is published on the number of tests delivered to social care staff and residents. In addition, the Government should consider extending routine testing beyond care homes to … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government details its existing extensive testing strategy for care homes, including asymptomatic staff and residents, and states it provides regular asymptomatic testing for CQC inspectors. It notes that care home visiting policy will be reviewed when the national lockdown ends.
Read full response →
Department of Health and Social Care
8 Recommendation Third Report - Social care: funding and… Accepted

Improving the level of recognition afforded to social care workers must be a key focus...

Improving the level of recognition afforded to social care workers must be a key focus for the Government to safeguard the future of the social care workforce. Not to do so would be to fail the many thousands of care workers who have worked so tirelessly during the coronavirus pandemic. … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees on the importance of increasing recognition for social care workers, detailing ongoing initiatives such as the appointment of a Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care and the continued development and distribution of over 1 million CARE badges.
Read full response →
Department of Health and Social Care

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
8 Sep 2020 James Bullion · Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, Rt Hon Matt Hancock · Department of Health and Social Care, Sarah Pickup · Local Government Association View ↗
14 Jul 2020 Deborah Gray, care user, Kevin Caulfield · Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council, Pamela King, former carer, Sir Andrew Dilnot · Commission on Funding of Care and Support, The Rt Hon. the Lord Forsyth of Drumlean · Economic Affairs Select Committee (HL), Yasuhisa Shiozaki, former Minister for Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan View ↗
23 Jun 2020 Jane Townson · UK Homecare Association, Marlene Kelly · Auburn Mere Care Home, Mel Cairnduff · Agincare, Oonagh Smyth · Skills for Care, Professor Martin Green · Care England, Raina Summerson · Agincare, Sue Ann Balcombe · Priscilla Wakefield House Nursing Home View ↗
9 Jun 2020 Anita Charlesworth · Health Foundation, Anna Severwright, Daphne Havercroft, former carer and attorney for a social care user, George Stoye · Institute for Fiscal Studies, Paul Little · Suffolk County Council & East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust, Professor Tine Rosgaard, Roskilde University, Denmark View ↗

Who gave evidence

22 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Anita Charlesworth · Senior Economic Adviser Health Foundation 1
Anna Severwright 1
Daphne Havercroft, former carer and attorney for a social care user 1
Deborah Gray, care user 1
George Stoye · Associate Director Institute for Fiscal Studies 1
James Bullion · President Association of Directors of Adult Social Services 1
Jane Townson · Chief Executive Officer UK Homecare Association 1
Kevin Caulfield · Disabled person and strategic lead for co-product… Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council 1
Marlene Kelly · Registered Manager Auburn Mere Care Home 1
Mel Cairnduff · Social Care Worker Agincare 1
Oonagh Smyth · Chief Executive Officer Skills for Care 1
Pamela King, former carer 1
Paul Little · Director for Integrated Health and Care Suffolk County Council & East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust 1
Professor Martin Green · Chief Executive Care England 1
Professor Tine Rosgaard, Roskilde University, Denmark 1
Raina Summerson · Chief Executive Agincare 1
Rt Hon Matt Hancock · Secretary of State Department of Health and Social Care 1
Sarah Pickup · Deputy Chief Executive Local Government Association 1
Sir Andrew Dilnot · former Chair Commission on Funding of Care and Support 1
Sue Ann Balcombe · Registered Manager Priscilla Wakefield House Nursing Home 1
The Rt Hon. the Lord Forsyth of Drumlean · Chair Economic Affairs Select Committee (HL) 1
Yasuhisa Shiozaki, former Minister for Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan 1

Correspondence

2 letters
DateDirectionTitle
17 Feb 2021 From cttee Letter to the Minister of State for Care on Social care: funding and workforce
10 Nov 2020 To cttee Letter from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on SignHealth