Reforming adult social care must be made priority

THE announcement in this week’s Queen’s Speech of the Government’s intention to bring forward reform of the social care sector is welcome. It’s now crucial that clear timescales are set out.

The pandemic has exacerbated challenges for the adult social care sector, which has been underresourced and overstretched for decades. This is a pivotal moment and government must prioritise adult social care.

We are calling on the Government to commit to a cap on individual care costs and to drive parity of esteem between social care and the NHS to help recruit and retain those with the necessary skills and frame of mind. It’s also crucial that the role of specialist housing in enabling people to stay independent for longer is recognised in legislation.

Now is the time to begin implementing robust, sustainable, long-term funding and structural reform in social care; building the system which our nation deserves. Jane Ashcroft CBE

Chief executive of Anchor Hanover