Care England reaction: House of Lords Debate on Social Care Strategy

“Care England has produced some policy papers with proposals so breathtakingly obvious, that I am amazed the Government hasn’t yet taken them up.” – Baroness Neuberger

On Thursday, 10 October, members of the House of Lords engaged in a crucial debate regarding the state of social care in England. They highlighted the need for a comprehensive social care strategy and increased support for unpaid carers.

In preparation for this discussion, Care England provided insights on the current landscape of care, outlining essential short-, medium-, and long-term steps the Government can take to implement meaningful reforms within the sector, which were referenced throughout the session.

In opening the debate, Baroness Tyler of Enfield emphasised the sector’s essential role in promoting independence and well-being, highlighting its significant economic contribution and the urgent need for reform due to decades of neglect and funding shortfalls.

Among her proposed solutions were the introduction of a mandatory professional register for adult social care staff in England, and ensuring direct representation of adult social care on all Integrated Care Systems in England. She also called for the development of a more simplified, consistent and efficient approach to how councils commission care; recommendations of which are presented in Care England’s 2024 Autumn Budget Representation and Care for Our Future.

Furthermore, Baroness Neuberger directly referenced Care England in our recommendations for establishing a £15 minimum wage and a professional register for care workers, mentioning that “Care England has produced some policy papers, with proposals so breathtakingly obvious that I am amazed that the Government have not yet taken them up.”

She also referenced our recommendation of a £1,500 weekly national tariff for intermediate care to support hospital discharge, stating that “if we had [implemented] Care England’s proposal… people would be able to get out of hospital and we would be able to free up some beds and make the system work better.”

Lastly, Lord Hunt of Wirral discussed our decaffeination research, which saw a 34.72% reduction in falls relating to going to the toilet; and, if scaled across the sector, would result in thousands of falls prevented and NHS savings of up to £85m per year. He stated that “These [innovative solutions] should be encouraged and supported through financial support and regulatory understanding.”

Reacting to the debate, Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Care England said:

“We are deeply grateful to the members of the House of Lords for raising many of Care England’s key asks during this important debate. It is encouraging to see a growing recognition of the challenges facing social care and the urgent need for reform. We must seize this moment to secure sustainable funding, invest in our workforce, and create a seamless integration between health and social care. The demand for action is clear; we need the Government to pick up what has been laid out and work collaboratively with us to implement meaningful change for the benefit of those who rely on these vital services.”

Recordings

• To watch Baroness Neuberger discuss Care England’s policy proposal of a £1,500 national tariff, click here.
• To watch Baroness Neuberger discuss Care England’s workforce proposals, click here.
• To watch Lord Hunt discuss Care England’s decaffeination trial, click here.
• To watch Baroness Tyler summarise some of Care England’s policy recommendations, click here.