Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Deferred
Require cross-government impact assessments for all workforce policy changes impacting the social care sector.
Recommendation
We recommend that any future policy changes or fiscal decisions relating to the workforce should be accompanied by a cross-government impact assessment that sets out the immediate and ongoing consequences for the social care sector. As part of this, the Government should set out what mitigating actions they would take to minimise any adverse effects on the social care sector, and how that compares to actions being taken to support the NHS. (Recommendation, Paragraph 74)
Government Response Summary
The government focuses on actions to support carers, committing to increasing the Carer's Allowance weekly earnings limit from April 2025 and reviewing Carer's Leave and the benefits of introducing paid Carer's Leave, rather than addressing the recommendation for cross-government impact assessments for social care workforce policy changes.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
As above, the commission will start a national conversation about what care and support working-age disabled adults, older people and their families should expect from adult social care, including exploring the needs of unpaid carers who provide vital care and support. However, the government recognises the immense contribution of carers and young carers and is acting now to improve support for families. From April 2025, the government increased the Carer’s Allowance weekly earnings limit from £151 a week to £196 - the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Living Wage. This represents the largest increase in the earnings limit since Carer’s Allowance was introduced in 1976 and the highest percentage increase since 2001. We also recognise that many unpaid carers can face challenges balancing employment with caring. The government is reviewing the implementation of Carer’s Leave and examining the benefits of introducing paid Carer’s Leave.