Local authorities add their voices to the social care debate

The need to reform the social care system in England was back in the news today as the Telegraph published a letter signed by a number of local authorities urging the Government to accept the recommendations of the Commission on Funding of Care and Support, led by Andrew Dilnot.  

It is really important that we hear the voices of local government, who surely know more about social care funding than any of us. As the letter says,

 “the way our society responds to the needs of older people and those with disabilities and mental health needs is an indication of the kind of country we live in”. 

The letter makes a powerful moral argument and is definitely worth reading in full.

The vital role that social care plays in the lives of people up and down the country is often misunderstood or overlooked.  As the cross party talks on social care continue, it is crucial that ministers, shadow ministers and MPs on both sides of the House of Commons understand that they have a once in a generation chance to reform the existing system. 

Making the system work better for the people who use it cannot happen without a sincere commitment to reform the way the system is funded.  The Dilnot commission recommended a £1.7bn investment to overhaul the current system and ensure that people have access to the support they need.

However, this isn’t just about the need for funding reform.  If we are to see a cross-party commitment to improving the current system, now is the time to speak up about the importance of social care to individuals.  The Learning Disability Coalition’s latest campaign, Care Matters To Me, asks people to write to or meet with their MP and tell them exactly why social care matters to them. 

A number of examples of just how the right support makes a difference to people’s lives can be found in our recently published Life Support report. 

We all need to make our voices heard and convince MPs that social care is a priority to their constituents and that the opportunities for reform presented by the upcoming White Paper are not lost. 

Alexis Camble, campaigns and policy officer