Vic Rayner OBE, CEO of the National Care Forum (NCF) – the leading association for not-for-profit care providers responds to the publication today of the white paper on social care – People at the heart of care. Rayner says:
“The wait is over – and we have before us a 10-year plan that is underpinned by many of the ambitions outlined by NCF and our members. The paper focuses in on key issues around quality, housing, technology, data and innovation – and rightly centres its attention on people who receive care and support, unpaid carers and the incredibly valuable workforce.
“It is a vision that I think many will feel represents the social care that we want for the future. It is clear that there is an appetite for change based on shared principles, and an understanding that investment in social care is critical to facilitating that change.
“Does it go far enough and fast enough? No.
“However, it is definitely a narrative that the not-for-profit care and housing sector can support. It does create a different vision for care that starts from the perspective of people who receive care and support. It will help people who know little about care and support to understand the truly transformational potential of social care. The funding allocated for social care reform as part of the social care and health levy payments is absolutely insufficient, and drastically out of line with the ambitions outlined here.
“Does it address the current crisis affecting the social care sector – particularly in relation to workforce shortage and how that is impacting on people who need or receive care and support? No.
“Therefore, for the vision to succeed we need the government to urgently go further. The reform paper says nothing about how we go from the here and now to the future. Bridging this risk filled chasm must be a priority over the next 4 months. People who need care right now are being left either in hospital or at home without the support they require. Staff who have worked in care for years are leaving in their droves through exhaustion, stress and the ability to be paid better in other sectors that can flex and change their wages. Organisations who have delivered care as a vital part of communities are closing their doors, unable to continue in the face of unsustainable pressures. If the government does not take urgent action– then this admirable vision will remain a distant dream. People in communities across all parts of the country need this, social care matters to us all.”
End
Note to Editors:
- The National Care Forum brings together 159 of the UK’s leading social care organisations, representing large numbers of care providers, offering thousands of services across the country, which are not for profit and always at the heart of community provision. Collectively, these organisations deliver more than £2 billion of social care support to more than 202,000 people in 8,200 settings. The NCF membership body collectively employs more than 115,000 colleagues.
- More information is available on the National Care Forum at www.nationalcareforum.org.uk. @NCFCareForum @vicrayner @NCF_Liz
- For enquiries, please contact Edna Petzen, edna.petzen@nationalcareforum.org.uk
; 
