Select Committee · Health and Social Care Committee

Adult Social Care Reform: The Cost of Inaction

Status: Open Opened: 31 Oct 2024 15 recommendations 12 conclusions 1 report

Successive governments have presented reform ideas for adult social care, yet few of these have been implemented. This inquiry seeks to understand what this inaction is costing. We will investigate the cost of inaction to individuals, the NHS, local authorities and also to the wider economy and HM Treasury, focussing not only on the financial … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
2nd Report - Adult Social Care Reform: the cost of inaction HC 368 5 May 2025 27 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
1 Conclusion 2nd Report - Adult Social Care Reform: … Accepted

Adult social care system fails to meet needs and lacks robust data for effective reform.

The current adult social care system does not sufficiently meet the needs of the population despite the efforts of millions of paid and unpaid carers. Financial pressures mean that those needing care sometimes only receive basic support, far from enough to enable them to live fulfilling lives. Despite this, costs … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government recognised the challenges and data limitations in adult social care, stating it would be challenging to publish an annual assessment of unmet need. It highlighted ongoing efforts by the CQC to assess all local authorities and DHSC's funding of a support programme to …
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Department of Health and Social Care
16 Recommendation 2nd Report - Adult Social Care Reform: … Accepted

Require full quantitative analysis for Adult Social Care Fair Pay Agreement impact assessments, including economic costs

We recommend that the impact assessment for any secondary legislation to establish an Adult Social Care Fair Pay Agreement be accompanied by a full quantitative analysis, including the impact on sector productivity, financial costs faced by providers and expected return to the Exchequer (through tax receipts or reduced welfare claims) … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government commits to beginning the Fair Pay Agreement consultation this year, with secondary legislation and the negotiating body established in 2026, aiming for the first agreement within this Parliament. It also confirms an impact assessment including monetised estimates will be produced once the agreement …
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Department of Health and Social Care
21 Conclusion 2nd Report - Adult Social Care Reform: … Accepted

Welcome new Better Care Fund objectives supporting preventative services over hospital discharge focus

We welcome the new objectives for the Better Care Fund to support preventative services, rather than simply focusing on solving challenges with hospital discharge. (Conclusion, Paragraph 111)

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the conclusion, stating it has committed £9 billion to the Better Care Fund (BCF) for 2025-26 and refocused its policy framework towards prevention and community-based care, setting new performance metrics. It is also considering longer-term reforms for 2026 and beyond.
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Department of Health and Social Care
22 Recommendation 2nd Report - Adult Social Care Reform: … Accepted

Review NHS investment in the Better Care Fund to meet its preventative service focus

We recommend that the Government and the NHS review the structure and level of NHS investment in the Better Care Fund to ensure it is fully capable of meeting its renewed focused on upstream and preventative work. (Recommendation, Paragraph 112) 56

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and has committed £9 billion to the Better Care Fund (BCF) for 2025-26, refocusing its policy framework on upstream and preventative work with new performance metrics. It also stated it is considering longer-term reform options for the BCF for …
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Department of Health and Social Care

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
19 Mar 2025 Caroline Abrahams · Age UK, Dr Maria Petrillo · Centre for Care, University of Sheffield, Holly, Jayne Simpson, Keyaan, Tom Gentry · Age UK View ↗
5 Mar 2025 Anu Singh · NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, Councillor David Fothergill · Local Government Association, Dr Birju Bartoli · Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Hugh Evans · Bristol City Council, Isabel Lawicka · NHS Providers, Melanie Williams · Association of Directors of Adult Social Services View ↗
5 Feb 2025 Anita Charlesworth · Health Foundation, Ms Emily Holzhausen CBE · Carers UK, Oonagh Smyth · Skills for Care View ↗
8 Jan 2025 Kathryn Smith · Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), Simon Bottery · King's Fund, Sir Andrew Dilnot CBE · Commission on Funding of Care and Support View ↗

Who gave evidence

18 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Anita Charlesworth · Senior Economic Adviser Health Foundation 1
Anu Singh · Chair NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board 1
Caroline Abrahams · Charity Director Age UK 1
Councillor David Fothergill · Chair of the Community Wellbeing Board Local Government Association 1
Dr Birju Bartoli · Chief Executive Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 1
Dr Maria Petrillo · Research Associate Centre for Care, University of Sheffield 1
Holly 1
Hugh Evans · Executive Director for Adults and Communities Bristol City Council 1
Isabel Lawicka · Director of Policy and Strategy NHS Providers 1
Jayne Simpson 1
Kathryn Smith · Chief Executive Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) 1
Keyaan 1
Melanie Williams · President Association of Directors of Adult Social Services 1
Ms Emily Holzhausen CBE · Director of Policy and Public Affairs Carers UK 1
Oonagh Smyth · Chief Executive Officer Skills for Care 1
Simon Bottery · Senior Fellow (Social Care) King's Fund 1
Sir Andrew Dilnot CBE · Chair Commission on Funding of Care and Support 1
Tom Gentry · Head of Health Influencing Age UK 1