Baroness Casey shows bold thinking on social care reform at Nuffield Trust Summit

Responding to Baroness Casey’s update on the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care at the Nuffield Trust Summit, Nuffield Trust Deputy Director of Policy Natasha Curry said:

“This refreshingly honest speech shows that Baroness Casey is thinking boldly about social care reform and is committed to building a system that works for everyone. Right now, the system is not serving anyone well, least of all the people it is meant to support. Baroness Casey is absolutely right to call out the unacceptable consequences of a system spread across so many different institutions that it feels like no one’s responsibility.

“Casey has outlined a small number of instant priorities based on what matters most to many people who use care services. Her commitment to more national effort to keep vulnerable adults safe backs up her argument that we need greater clarity on leadership and accountability in the sector. But she has clearly understood that it’s not enough to tinker at the edges – we’ll need a comprehensive long term reform plan.

“Only through getting the public on board will the Commission and government succeed in taking the political sting out of this issue. Until social care becomes politically salient and an issue that matters to us all, the reform that’s needed will not be possible. 

“With time ticking for this government, the Commission needs to act quickly and build on the momentum for change. Casey recognises that we’ll need more than just money to fix our fractured care system, but for meaningful reform to be borne out, the government will need to back the Commission’s plans and match them with the necessary funding. This will mean politicians across the political divide sticking their necks out and defending investments in social care, possibly at the expense of other more electorally popular services, like health, education or defence.”