In our latest blog article, our comms volunteer Sarah looks at the plan proposed by ADASS (Association of Directors of Adult Social Services) to address the current issues facing the UK’s health and social care system
Now there is a new Government in power, many of us will be wondering what their plans are to tackle pressing issues in health and social care.
Many disabled people are struggling to access support the support they need or cannot meet the costs to fund their own care. Difficulties in social care have a huge impact on the NHS, with many people stuck in hospital due to the lack of social care provision, even though they are fit to be discharged. This impacts hospital waiting lists, as well as access to urgent medical care.
These are issues most of us are concerned about and it is obvious that significant change is needed. It isn’t going to happen overnight, but how can the new Government begin to tackle it?
Here’s the good news: A detailed plan to address these issues already exists. The UK charity ADASS designed a plan ahead of the general election that the new Government could follow to improve health and social care over two, five, and ten year periods.
You can read more about ADASS here but, as a summary, ADASS seeks to influence policies, decision makers and public discourse to help to transform the lives of people needing and providing care.
ADASS have argued that the new Government must prioritise social care. Within their plan, they have identified three key areas to focus on and improve:
- The social care workforce
- Unpaid carers
- Early support closer to home
Each of these areas are divided in an action plan over two, five and ten years, with the aim to maximise its appeal and overall success.
Here are the key priorities of the report:
Fair pay and conditions for the social care workforce
In two years: Improve the pay terms of social care workers.
Value the people who work in care in the same way we value the people who work in other sectors by ensuring that councils, providers and individual employers have the resources to pay care workers, the majority of whom are women, above National Living Wage – which must be funded nationally. A clear fully funded plan should be laid out within the First 100 Days of a new Government.
In five years: A national strategy to solve the social care staffing crisis.
By the end of the next Parliament, we want a clear fully funded plan being implemented to recruit, train and retain the social care workforce we’ll need across England to provide the quality care and support for everyone to live the life they want. That will mean more social workers, occupational therapists and other practitioners who support people to stay well at home and in their community.
In ten years: A social care workforce to deliver world class care and support.
Implementation of the fully-funded workforce plan means we have enough people with the right skills, in the right place to ensure people can have choice and control over how they live their lives, both now and in the future.
A new deal for carers
In two years: More support on things that matter to carers.
Carers have sufficient support and care, so they are not overwhelmed. There is more funding for short breaks, legal advice and advocacy, and other support which helps them improve their wellbeing. We’re responding to what carers need, as set out in the Care Act. As more carers are identified, this support reaches more people – and advice and guidance is personalised.
In five years: A simpler system, set up to help carers.
Remove key barriers that prevent carers from providing support, including improving Carers Allowance to a level more like Employment Support Allowance. And implementing a straightforward, co-designed system that provides easy access to information and advice and supports them at every stage of their caring journey.
In ten years: A new deal for carers so they can all live well, work and care.
Implementation of a fully funded plan for carers. Meaning that carers have access to the support they need to care for their relative or friend, and the choices and support to live the life they want to lead. That means paid leave and flexibility at work, support to enable carers to enter or re-join the workforce if they so choose, financial support when they need it, support for their health and wellbeing, and access to opportunities that might otherwise be inaccessible including education.
Early support, closer to home
In two years: Investment in digital, technology and data that makes care more responsive to people.
A boost for councils and other organisations investing in digital, technology and data to give people more choice, control and information about the care and support available to them, as well as personalised advice to help them plan for the future. New approaches and products are independently evaluated, data is equitably accessible across organisations and funds are available to scale-up the best solutions.
In five years: Houses that help people stay independent and live well.
The funding and political backing to ensure new houses are built to be easily adapted, existing housing is adapted to meet peoples changing needs and that there is more choice and control for people who need different kinds of home or supported living arrangements so they can live well and get the care and support they need.
In ten years: Social care that proactively helps us all live well, for longer.
Shift resources to provide early support to many more people in their homes and communities so people are empowered to maintain their well- being for longer, which prevents illness or them getting to a crisis point where they need hospital or residential care. A social care system that helps people live the life they want, supported by multi-disciplinary teams in their communities.
The plan certainly sounds good, but will the new Government take it on board? Will the funding be available? These questions and many more will no doubt be on people’s minds as we wait to see what the Government’s plans and priorities are for disabled people and their carers.
The report is available here.