Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Alongside such a long term funding settlement we strongly believe the government should publish a...
Recommendation
Alongside such a long term funding settlement we strongly believe the government should publish a 10 year plan for the social care sector as it has done for the NHS. The two systems are increasingly linked and it makes no sense to put in place long term plans for one without the other. Failure to do so is also likely to inhibit reform and lead to higher costs as workforce shortages become more pronounced with higher dependency on agency staff. Reducing the 30% turnover rates typical in the sector will also require a long term, strategic approach to social care pay and conditions. (Paragraph 37) The social care workforce
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
5.4 Currently the Government’s priority for adult social care is that all recipients of care receive the support they need throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and the winter period, with equal focus on the NHS and social care. Whilst Government published the Adult Social Care Winter Plan on 18th September 2020 looking ahead through winter 2020/21, we are acutely aware of the longer-term challenges to the social care system in England. 5.5 We also recognise the importance of attracting and recruiting people to do this vital work. This will help ensure the provision of good quality care, as well as providing new, meaningful careers to those who had not previously considered working in the sector. 5.6 The Government is committed to sustainable improvement of the adult social care system and will bring forward proposals in 2021. 5.7 The Government supports the integration of health and social care, with the ultimate aim of creating a more seamless and effective experience of care for people. We recognise the importance of joining up care services around a person’s needs. This has the potential to generate significant health benefits to the population, such as increased independence, improved quality of care and higher patient satisfaction. 5.8 The Government believes that local NHS and Social Care leaders and practitioners should have the autonomy to decide on the best solutions for improving the care delivered to the communities they work in. 5.9 The Better Care Fund (BCF) is the national policy driving forward the integration of health and social care in England. It has done this by enabling greater cooperation between health and social care partners at a local level. The budgets reflect that cooperation: local areas have voluntarily pooled over £2.7 billion above the minimum required into the BFC in 2019-20.