31 Mar Care England’s Reaction To Adult Social Care Report
Care England, the largest representative body for independent providers of adult social care, has responded to the latest report from the Communities and Local Government Select Committee on adult social care. Professor Martin Green, Chief Executive of Care England, was summoned to give oral evidence to the Committee earlier this year and has supported the Committee’s recommendations.
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says:
“The committee has done a very thorough investigation and I hope that the Government will give maximum consideration to the recommendations proposed in its forthcoming Green Paper. The report reflects exactly what our members are telling us namely the need for adequate funding in order to provide the care packages, training and sustainability of services. The conclusion of this report cannot be disputed; the Government needs to stem the financial crisis in adult social care. The sector is ready and waiting to work with the Government to find a resolution that focuses on outcomes”.
The Communities and Local Government Select Committee published its report on 31 March stating that the Government needed to urgently review how social care was funding in the long term and address serious threats to social care provision. The report finds inadequate funding very seriously affects the quantity and quality of adult social care provision, impacting on those receiving care, the NHS, care staff, carers and providers. The report sets out a number of recommendations relating to monitoring of care services, care commissioning, and the care workforce.
Martin Green continues:
“We recognise the financial pressures that local authorities are under, but the pursuit of low fees should not be the end goal. We therefore welcome the Committee’s recommendation that CQC should oversee the market shaping, commissioning and procurement activities of councils. Expectations from citizens have risen. They experience health and social care as a continuum and the current financial challenges make the delivery of such expectations untenable. Government policy needs to shift to ensure that the system is fit for purpose and provides what citizens need and want. At present the system is too crisis based as opposed to enabling. This in turn disempowers people to manage their own care. Combined with this, the demographic changes mean that the current system is unsustainable. Tax payers are simply not getting value for money”.
