Recommendation 1

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 continue to increase, with the Government, and taxpayers, currently paying £32 billion a year for a broken system. The Government does not have a robust understanding of the extent of the current system’s failings to provide people with the care they need. Nor does it have robust data on the outcomes of delivering high quality care. Without this, it will be unable to make a clear case for reform. (Conclusion, Paragraph 20)