9 words for care campaign
#9wordsforcare
The Queen’s Speech 2021 afforded the reform of social care only nine tiny words. This was the only acknowledgement given to a sector that impacts the lives of millions of people, and has been on the promise end of reform from multiple governments for the best part of thirty years.
Deeply frustrated by the minimal focus on social care in the Queen’s Speech, we made a call out on 12th May 2021 to those who work in the sector, receive care and support, relatives and friends, providers, commissioners, local government, parliamentarians and the wider public to find out what they would have said about how important social care was – if they only had 9 words.
The response to the #9wordsforcare call out was incredible. In just 48-hours, we received over 400 submissions and hundreds more who engaged and commented on the ambition for social care.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this campaign, we want to show that social care reform really matters to people, and that they want it to really matter to those in power.
We’ve categorised the responses into six headings:
- Reform
- Workforce
- People
- This matters to us!
- Funding
- Action now!
See all of the responses below
| #socialcare can prevent the need for #Hospital care. |
| A proper plan that recognises working aged disabled people |
| Be empathetic, use your power to affect positive changes |
| Care makes a difference. Reform must do the same |
| Care whether social / health is a right for all |
| Change the narrative – admission to care is not failure |
| Change the narrative and stigma attached to Social Care. |
| Cornerstone of society that deserves due care and attention |
| Deinstitutionalise Care into Home-based Care |
| Don’t forget the #mumtest & make it easier please! |
| Early intervention and prevention by uniting housing with care. |
| Early intervention matters for positive social care outcomes. |
| Fairness, respect and choice – the future of social care |
| Focus fair access long-term person central policy not politics |
| Focusing on the future to make better lives happen |
| Health care and social care are one ecosystem together |
| Holistic reform creates balance and creates collaboration for all. |
| Homecare, supported living, residential care, nursing care need care. |
| Hope, dignity, compassion and empowerment collide for living life! |
| Housing’s social architecture is as important as its’ physical |
| How about social and health care from now on |
| Improve Community, communication, and culture. Remove oppressive risk aversion |
| In our lifetime, everyone needs access to social care |
| Include social care in conversations it makes a difference! |
| Innovative thinking, ensuring integration and inclusion in social care. |
| Lessons have been learned but we’re still failing tests |
| Let’s do it without the government- because we care |
| Let’s raise the profile of Social Care all together |
| Now is the time to listen to the careworkers. |
| Now is the time to listen to the residents. |
| Parity of esteem, parity of esteem, parity of esteem |
| People as equal partners in designing care and support |
| Plea for politicians work with people who have disabilities. |
| Providing care isn’t optional and neither is social care reform! |
| Put unpaid carers at the heart of the reforms |
| Quality Improvement is essential to improving care for patients |
| Reform needs to be intergenerational, recognise interdependency, and be inclusive. |
| Remember the social care in health and social care |
| Remove commodification of care, it is NOT an industry |
| Social care free at the point of contact, yes? |
| Social Care leadership can’t be cis white abled dominated |
| Social care must be given parity with the NHS |
| Social care mustn’t always be bottom of the list |
| Social care needs to “level up” for mental health. |
| Social care should be about the fulfilment of life |
| Social Care the underdog, yet essential to all |
| Start with what humans already do well not reinvent |
| Stop making care an adjunct of the housing market |
| Supported freedom through removal of barriers and abundant choice |
| The old one – Out Out Out – The positive – In In In – The future – sur le mur |
| Think Housing in the future of care and support! |
| To work as one, end multiple players, properly regulated |
| True integration with NHS to deliver what residents need |
| Vital services that should be heard, appreciated and supported |
| We care. Reform ensures no one goes without care. |
| We must fix what’s wrong and develop what’s strong |
| What would the nation do without social care provision? |
| When people properly value social care transformation will happen! |
| When talking about health it must include mental health |
| Why is social care not prioritised like the NHS? |
| Broken care system can’t put care first. |
| Social care is just as important as health care |
| Words matter. ‘Care and Health’ has a totally different weight than Health and Care |
| Working together a sustainable improvement for everyone is possible |
| Boris, what care would you want for your parents? |
| The Cinderella to the NHS |
| Amazing inspiring people making a huge difference every day |
| Better quality & access, universal entitlement, support family carers & workforce |
| Care and support for carers keeps older people safe. |
| Care workers are skilled professions, let’s level them up #levellingup |
| Care workers are underpaid for their contribution to society |
| Careworkers look after the residents, residents look after careworkers. |
| Caring for our carers ensures care for us all |
| Caring is a specialist profession undertaken by dedicated individuals |
| Clapping for Carers is for Life, not just Coronavirus!! |
| Develop national learning strategy that supports retention and value |
| Employ enough staff to change residents incontinence pants regularly |
| Empowering a workforce to support people live meaningful lives |
| Fair pay for Social Care staff |
| Fully state funded care delivered by properly trained staff |
| Fund social care and reward workers for being fantastic! |
| Funding, parity with the NHS and workforce reward & recognition |
| Give careworkers a fair wage, listen to residents |
| Higher status & appreciation – properly resourced and value driven. |
| Highly skilled people building relationships based on respect reciprocity. |
| I’d like to start by saying a thank you |
| If you really care you would talk to careworkers. |
| Integrated seamlessly with health and all workers recognised professionally |
| Invest in social care workers, they’re true heroes |
| Love, support and reward our carers like never before |
| Must reflect and recognise the talent of the workforce |
| Narrow the pay gap between CEO’S, BOD and careworkers. |
| Nature, the arts, emotional intelligence and investment in people. |
| No recognition, no hope, no workforce, no social care! |
| Older people and their carers deserve great social care |
| Over worked, underpaid careworkers get no respect from politicians. |
| Parity of esteem for frontline workers with NHS colleagues |
| Pay careworkers at least the real Living Wage now |
| Proper recognition and remuneration for the social care workforce |
| Putting the ‘super’ into superheroes, each and every day |
| Quality, dignified care. A system properly funded, staffed, valued. |
| Recognition for the passion and dedication of care workers |
| Skilled, selfless and inspiring individuals, making smiles every day |
| Social care isn’t just wiping bums and drinking tea |
| Stop CEO’s robbing elderly, vulnerable and the disabled residents. |
| Thank you to all who have and do care |
| Time for careworkers to work together and kick ass. |
| Twenty-four/seven, they never seem to tire. Always there. |
| Unpaid Carers want to be seen, heard and included. |
| Unwavering care and support delivered by incredible selfless people |
| Whether informal/vocational its Caring, Compassionate and kindness |
| Change society’s perception of how care workers are viewed |
| Care for all, pay rise for carers, no delays! |
| The unsung many keeping the vulnerable safe, need recognition. |
| Adding quality years to life |
| Addressing things that matters to residents, staff and family |
| Behold, 1.6 million people step out of the shadows |
| Care with Compassion? Time slots. Named visitors. No touch. |
| Caring support without exceptions with equal opportunities to all |
| Celebrating the uniqueness in everyone, supporting independence and choice. |
| Children transitioning to adult services to have wider choice |
| Communication, speak to families, working together, unites we stand |
| Communities, relationships, people, purpose: the potential of social care |
| Consistent and tailored to the individual, a happy home |
| Decisions about housing are decisions about care. Prioritise independence. |
| Definitely accessible for and to all. Quality care should never discriminate. |
| Diabolical mental health support need early person centred care |
| Disabled or able bodied all need to be heard. |
| Do the elderly and vulnerable know about the disabled. |
| Do the right thing for our parents & grandparents |
| Don’t forget the 1.5 million people ageing without children |
| Empowering and supporting people to live well with dignity |
| Enabling people and communities to live their best life! |
| Enabling people live best possible life IS ‘levelling up’. |
| Enabling people to live their best lives without limits. |
| Essential care giver must be enshrined in law now |
| Everyone has the right to live a full life |
| Everyone should have fair access to great quality care |
| Families/individuals needing care should have choice, including #livein |
| Family members are essential for their loved ones wellbeing |
| Flexibility, choice & control in all care & support |
| Giving helpful support for a dignified quality of life |
| Happy life first, social care helps you live it! |
| Helping everyone live the lives we want to lead. |
| Helping people to live their best lives, choice, control |
| How can we maintain independence and dignity in care? |
| How do you explain to some one with dementia. |
| I thought the UK was the best for disabled people. |
| I want families to give the recognition we deserve. |
| Immediate and meaningful mental health support for all. |
| Improve life chances for young people through early intervention |
| Integrated, sustainable care enabling independent purposeful living with dignity |
| Integration of all using and providing care moving forwards |
| #socialcare system that relies on family is unsustainable |
| It’s Tome to start enabling families, not just individuals. |
| Let government remember working age adults in care too |
| Let’s enable everyone to live life to the full. |
| Let’s focus on making people feel they are worthwhile! |
| Listen and respond to those with lived experience first |
| Looking beyond clinical needs, to enrich and support individuals |
| Making a positive difference in people’s lives every day. |
| Named visitors. Time Slots. 1hr a week. Stop Prisonisation. |
| Never shut care home residents away from family again |
| Older people deserve your full attention and your best efforts. |
| Peer support groups and idea sharing benefits social care |
| People (and our supporters) living their best lives |
| People deserve cohesive, supportive, flexible services working for them |
| People of ANY age in care homes have rights |
| A community-friendly family Unrecognized by its potential |
| People who are skilled, confident, supported, diverse, valued, recognised. |
| People with learning disabilities deserve better from the politicians. |
| People with learning disabilities should be heard inside care. |
| People, people, people, what would you want for yourself? |
| People, relationships, communities, trust, hope, respect, equality, rights, love. |
| Care homes must never again forbid family care giving |
| It is Ageist to commodify older adult support |
| Person-centred not service driven nor means tested |
| Putting needs of people, not systems, first for mental health |
| Research participation improves quality of social and health care |
| Resident needs MUST be at centre of all decisions |
| Residents denied human rights, care homes forgotten, never again |
| Residents with capacity need to be taken seriously. |
| Respect. Acknowledge. Individuals with LD not same as eldercare. |
| Safe, caring, appropriate and inspiring support/environment for everyone |
| Seeing the best in people and helping them flourish. |
| Social and creative connections improve lives every single day |
| Social care – The heart of communities led by communities |
| Social care includes working age adults, don’t you know! |
| Support people in life and death with absolute dignity |
| Supporting independence needs culture change not financial sticking plaster |
| Supporting people to live the lives that they choose |
| Supporting people to live their best choice led lives |
| Supporting people to live with purpose, autonomy and friendship |
| Supporting people to stay in control and be happy |
| Sustainable and equal access to care and support services |
| Sustainably meeting personalised needs In ways that Everyone understands |
| Thank you/People are people/We can do this! |
| The right care for the person and their circumstances |
| The truth is nobody will interview someone with disabilities. |
| Time to make social care work for all please |
| To enable more to live better lives for longer. |
| Treat disabled people the way you’d wanna be treated. |
| Vulnerable people any age, receive right care, whatever setting |
| We must start seeing and treating people as….people |
| When will government prioritise those with a learning disability |
| Who is this mysterious tribe called “the elderly”? |
| Work with families for quality of life and happiness |
| Young or old, all in care, must be heard |
| ” Unwanted, unloved and ‘uncared’ for is the greatest poverty.” (Mother Teresa) |
| A fulfilling life experienced with choice, dignity and equity |
| A misfortune not an indulgence. All ages need Care. |
| Affordable, Effective and Compassionate Social Care available to ALL. |
| As a disabled resident why is everything a fight |
| Ask reporters on Twitter to treat us much better. |
| Better have decent Wi-Fi and a loud music system |
| Can I live in an Eden Alternative home please? |
| Care “from the cradle to the grave” was promised |
| Care as a lifelong right not a lifelong cost |
| Care is not a product it is a verb |
| Care should include things that make life worth living |
| Could the politicians wash, dress, feed disabled residents daily. |
| Do as you would be done by. |
| Do not ignore us or let us down again. |
| Do tv and radio journalists support and hear us. |
| Do we really trust Jeremy Hunt and Matt Hancock. |
| Don’t treat care as something you will never need |
| Empowering relational support to live the life I choose. |
| Enjoying a fulfilling life like anyone else – that’s care! |
| Every day to be the best it can be. |
| Feeling physically and emotionally well, and with relational connections |
| Flexible, reliable, affordable, considerate support – for me, with me |
| For all families when they need it to be |
| From the cradle to the grave |
| How many celebrities would like to work in care. |
| How many journalists would like to work in care homes. |
| How we care is who we are as society. |
| How we support our most vulnerable surely transcends politics? |
| I want carers allowance to be a decent amount. |
| I want politicians to give the recognition we deserve. |
| I want the disabled on benefits to be respected. |
| I wonder if social care is in the news |
| If you really care you would visit the care homes. |
| In your later life, who’ll be there for you? |
| Kind and dignified support to live your best life |
| Leading my life in the place I call home |
| Live well at home and flourish in our communities |
| Living a good life with the people I love |
| Living independently at home with the support I choose |
| My hard-working parents deserve affordable, good quality care now. |
| My life, my way |
| My Life, my way. Social care support if needed. |
| No long grass or road left for the can |
| None of us is getting out of here alive |
| O life how far to go, with his memories |
| Older people are you and I grown older – care |
| Pooled by everyone, there for of all of us. |
| Quality services offering real choice achieving my personal outcomes. |
| Recognise the importance of the everyday for everyone |
| Respect what can I do, support what I can’t |
| Social care for the life you want and choose |
| Social care is about home, love, purpose and hope |
| Social care is about us, not them and us |
| Social care is support to actually live life. |
| Social care is support to live your chosen life |
| Social care so everyone can live good, ordinary lives |
| Social Care, Housing and Health are all equally important |
| Start publishing guidance at 9am Monday not 7pm Friday! |
| Stop ignoring us listen to the careworkers and residents |
| Advice and guidance to navigate a complex care system |
| Living to my full potential and delighting in connectedness |
| Support to live my life my way #autonomy |
| Support when needed to live life how it’s wanted |
| The fullest possible life for everyone whatever the circumstances |
| Time for our voices to be heard by journalists. |
| Time to get our voices heard among the celebrities. |
| Time to get the recognition we deserve from celebrities |
| Together we can build the world we long for. |
| We have to make change actually happen from below. |
| We must make care work for all of us! |
| We private providers need our voices to be heard! |
| We want humanity to treat the disabled equally |
| We want humanity to treat the disabled respectfully |
| We who live in care demand you sort social care. |
| We will all need it, it’s life and death |
| What do you want for your own (later) life? |
| What matters to – not what’s the matter with – you. |
| You can never care too much about social care |
| Can we have a reasonable care funding level? Nein! |
| Care charges should not increase when benefits are increased. |
| Catastrophic care costs … Difficulty accessing … Poor quality of care |
| Equal funds and recognition as to the NHS |
| Equality of access & funding, delivered by valued staff |
| Free at point of delivery. Seamless service with health. |
| Free at the point of delivery National Care Service |
| Free Social Care for all funded like the NHS |
| Fully funded so people can thrive not just live. |
| Fully funded well run Social care system required now |
| Fund it properly, pay people properly, deliver it now |
| Fund it, support it, you may need it |
| Fund, respect, value social care as we do health. |
| Great quality care, which is fair and funded – now! #fixcareforall |
| It’s not just an elder care funding conversation |
| It’s about so much more than just the funding |
| Need should dictate how much is ‘in the pot’ |
| No investment in innovation for Care means no progress |
| Nothing about us without us – community led with state cash |
| Parity with the NHS, overhaul funding and respect staff |
| Proposals should ensure £££ for all types of services |
| Quality care costs so we must all contribute more |
| Right funding, right time. People living well and thriving. |
| Underfunded, under-recognised but essential for people’s quality of life |
| Underfunded, understaffed, and underskilled sector losing the blame game |
| Where is the funding for preventative support? |
| Without proper funding there will be no proper care |
| Worthy of real investment, regarded as a national treasure! |
| Emotional, political and financial investment to care for all |
| 1.5m People Say ‘Stop Waiting, Reform Social Care Now |
| 9 words said a lot, neglecting #care must stop. |
| Ambitious reform backed by appropriate investment is needed now |
| Care in crisis, needs urgent review and reform now. |
| Dear Boris, let’s reform social care together, for everyone. |
| Disappointed to see the Queen being Boris Johnson’s corgi |
| Fix Care For All carers, all older people, now! |
| Germany reformed in 1995, why is England so behind! |
| Have you a proposal to fix what politicians broke. |
| Honour your promise to give social care unlimited words! |
| I see the government have delayed reforming social care |
| If Australia can fix care (mostly), why can’t UK? |
| In need of reform to meet everyone’s future needs. |
| It’s really not that hard – get on with it! |
| It’s time to stop talking and do something bold |
| Its essential social care reform starts to occur now ! |
| It’s not about England or Germany, England is reformed. |
| Lack of action has impact on people and lives |
| Let’s not wait for the Government, we got this |
| Let’s work together and keep putting the pressure on. |
| Make the government pay for what they have done! |
| National bipartisan debate. Raise public awareness. Time to mobilise. |
| Nine words butter no parsnips. Get the plan done. |
| No more excuses. No more delays. Fix social care. |
| No time to waste, social care affects us all. |
| Of all political failures, failure to care is worst |
| Older people have waited long enough – fix social care! |
| Promises promises promises now deliver reforms reforms reforms! |
| Reforming #socialcare: not that expensive and not that hard |
| Show the nation cares (It’s really not that hard!) |
| Social care = people, dignity, choice. Reform needed now. |
| Social care deserves more than 9 words, act now |
| Social care is everyone’s business, let’s sort it now |
| Social care needs total reform not sticking plaster solutions |
| Social care reform failure leaves families at breaking point |
| Speedy, inclusive, consultative reform and substantial investment needed now |
| Stop being political cowards. Act now, or face calamity. |
| Stop making excuses and deliver on the promises set |
| Stop saying its too difficult to reform. It ain’t. |
| Stop with the promises and take action on #socialcare. |
| The clock is ticking, time flies, no more delays! |
| The PM must fulfil his promise to fix care |
| The Queen demands Boris honours social care reform promise |
| There’s plenty of advice, now focus on the solution |
| Time to call hands to action, not just clapping |
| Time to listen, listen, listen politicians stop ignoring us. |
| Twenty years of care procrastination. Politicians. Hang your heads. |
| Urgent action needed now. Everyone will need care eventually. |
| We do not want proposals, we need action |
| We don’t want more broken promises for social care |
| We need less talk more action or people march. |
| We’ll just kick the can further down the road… |
| What is government for, if not social care reform? |
| What’s more important than fixing our social care system? |
| Where is that plan announced in July 2019, Boris? |
| Why are we still waiting for social care reform? |
| With great power comes great responsibility-time for action |
| With public comes votes…comes political will for change. |
| Without social care reform there will be devastating consequences |
| You’ve had thirty years to fix this. Do it. |
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