Care England Responds: Independent Commission into Social Care Is Welcome but Action Cannot Wait

Care England, the leading voice for adult social care in England, has responded to the Government’s announcement of an independent commission into adult social care, chaired by The Baroness Casey of Blackstock DBE CB.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said:

“This announcement acknowledges the decade-long crisis in social care, but it risks becoming yet another report that gathers dust while the sector crumbles. Care providers are doing their utmost to deliver essential care to society’s most vulnerable, yet the challenges they face only keep increasing. While the sector has demonstrated resilience, its repeated calls for help have been ignored, as the Government continues to prioritise reforming the NHS to achieve goals only a fully functioning adult social care system could deliver.

 

This commission will simply confirm what we already know – how many more reports must we endure before action is taken? The harm caused by the Government’s inaction is already deep, and the consequences for those who currently draw on care will be irreparable if immediate intervention is not forthcoming. Waiting until 2028 is not an option. The people in care today cannot afford to wait any longer – their lives depend on action now. By the time this commission will conclude, any recommendations will likely be delayed until a new Parliament is in place, risking not just a missed opportunity to support individuals now, but  potential for a shift in priorities that could leave the sector without the action it so desperately needs.

 

We are ready to work alongside Baroness Casey and the Government to turn this commission into a catalyst for genuine change. But let’s be clear: the status quo is no longer an option. Every day without action means more vulnerable people are left without the care they urgently need now, while the already overwhelming pressures on the NHS continue to intensify.

 

This isn’t about politics; it’s about people, and we need the Government to act now. Together, we can fix social care, but we must start today, not tomorrow.”

Care England urges the Government to match the commission with immediate action, including funding support and workforce initiatives, to stabilise the sector while long-term reforms are developed. Without this, the future of social care, and the millions who depend on it, remains at stake.