A new dawn for social care?

8 July 2024

It was a historic result at the General Election, with the Labour Party sweeping into power with a landslide majority in Westminster Parliament. We must now see this turn into a historic new dawn for social care.

The Labour Party manifesto, setting out their promises to voters ahead of the election, committed to “deep reform” on social care to deal with ‘inconsistent standards, chronic staff shortages, and people not always being treated with the care, dignity and respect they deserve’. The manifesto doesn’t set out much detail or a timetable, but speaking before the election our new Prime Minister suggested this type of reform could take many years. Whilst we agree that social care is in dire need of widespread reform, there are pressing changes that need to happen with urgency. The sector is in crisis, and people relying on care services simply cannot wait years for change.

Our advice team have worked in the care sector for over 20 years and they have never seen it in such a poor state. Years of neglect and broken political promises have left the social care system stretched to breaking point. It is older and disabled people paying the price – their safety, dignity and rights at risk – and family carers who are exhausted from filling the gaps and can often find themselves excluded from supporting loved ones. We hear from people facing uphill battles to get access to care, to get their basic needs met or to have serious concerns with care resolved.

The sector continues to rely on the goodwill and dedication of an under-supported, under-paid, under-valued workforce. Their lack of training and support not only reflects on the value placed on care work, but also the value placed on those relying on care. We all deserve better. The new Government must seize the opportunity for historic change.

This should not be a party political issue. The Liberal Democrats, who increased their seats in Westminster to 72, becoming the third biggest party in the UK Parliament, prioritized social care in their election campaign. They have already reached out to the new Government for cross-party talks on tackling social care.

Let’s get these plans for widespread reform underway, moving at pace to reflect the urgency of the situation. But in the meantime, we urge the new UK Government to take some immediate action to protect people’s rights and relieve the pressure on a system on its knees. This would require an injection of resources, to save budgets stretched to the point of indignity.

But there are also changes that could happen tomorrow which would require no extra funding, such as introducing a new legal right to a Care Supporter. This already has cross-party support and would send a strong message that this new Government intends to put people’s rights and autonomy at the heart of care and health services.

We know there are many urgent priorities for the new UK Government. Ensuring dignity and respect for older and disabled people in the most vulnerable of situations must top the list.