Recommendation 14

HM Government Acknowledged

The People at the Heart of Care white paper, published in December 2021, set out a 10-year vision for adult social care. The vision has person-centred care at its core and revolves around three principles. First, people should have choice, control and support to live independent lives. Second, people should be able to access outstanding quality and tailored care and support. Third, adult social care should be fair and accessible. This is a shared vision that was shaped by national and local government, care providers, care staff, the NHS, people who draw on care and support, their friends and family, charities and the voluntary sector. This government remains fully committed to that vision and we have set out plans for the next stage of social care reform and improvement backed by over £2.1 billion over the next two years. On 4 April we published Next Steps to Put People at the Heart of Care, which sets out some of the action we are taking over the next two years to take the next step on our reform journey. Our activity will include improving access to care and support, workforce recognition and development, digital transformation, improving data and accountability, supporting unpaid carers, joining up health and care services, and supporting people to remain independent at home. The plan includes more information on our policies, key milestones for reform and a timetable for the next two years. We will continue to monitor and evaluate the impact of reforms, to ensure that they make a difference to the people who interact with social care. Government response 21 The Director General of ASC Group, Michelle Dyson, is the Executive Sponsor for the Adult Social Care Reform Portfolio. Each reform programme working within the portfolio has a programme director responsible for delivery objectives. By 2025 we will have made real change, particularly in how adult social care is planned for and commissioned. This will be backed by increased accountability through better data insights and local authority assessments. The People at the Heart of Care white paper, recognised that our vision is ambitious and will not be realised overnight. The proposals outlined will not solve all of the challenges facing social care, but they are a significant step in moving us towards a new vision for social care that the whole of government is committed to. Spending decisions beyond the next two years will be a decision for government at future spending reviews. In tandem with our reform activity, we are taking action to ensure that adult social care is adequately funded to meet ongoing pressures as set out above. Conclusion 20 – distribution of £5.4 billion for social care reform Conclusion 20 - The lack of information about how the reforms add up to £5.4 billion, why each reform was allocated the amount it was allocated, and how funding will be distributed, does little to instil confidence that the Government has thought through its plans. We have expressed our concerns numerous times about the unrealistic demands of requiring councils to compete for relatively small pots of funding, which larger and better funded authorities can win.