Adult care chiefs publish roadmap for transformation of services

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass’) warned that ‘we’ve run out of road’ with the current model of adult care services in England, as it published a new roadmap to transform social care.

Adass’ report said there was a consensus on what sort of care and support system was needed, but that for decades there had been no political or collective will to make it happen.

The roadmap proposes how care and support could be transformed in England, focusing on ten key areas for change: from improving housing options for older and disabled people, tackling chronic social care staffing issues including pay and conditions, to supporting carers and making care more affordable.

It sets out measures to be implemented over the next two years, two to five years, and longer term over the next ten years to ensure everyone who needs care and support can access it.

The report was developed by social care experts Kate Jopling and Dr Anna Dixon. Its publication comes against a backdrop of the biggest crisis social care has ever faced, caused by years of underinvestment.

Adass President Sarah McClinton said: ‘After decades of false dawns on reforms and funding, never in my professional career have I seen the adult care system so close to breaking point. Millions of people are in pain or distress because they aren’t getting the care they need and family and friends picking up the pieces are being pushed to the edge.

‘We’ve been trying to patch-up social care for years, but we’ve run out of road. We need to act now to save social care. We don’t expect the Government to wave a magic wand, but we do need the political will to invest in a long-term plan to ensure good care is available to everyone, everywhere.

‘And the government must back local leaders and local people to take charge of fixing care in their communities because they know what’s needed. What’s impressive in this report is that despite the odds we’ve faced – the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, chronic underfunding – local people are showing what’s possible. But they need the backing of the whole country to make it happen everywhere.’

The report highlighted changes that can be made immediately at a local level, many without the need for huge amounts of money. It also included case studies of programmes already up and running around the country.

Report Author Dr Anna Dixon said: ‘The good news is this report shows that when it comes to care and support, we all want the same thing: a fair system that enables everyone to live in the place we call home, with the people and things that we love, in communities where we look out for one another, doing what matters to us.’

Image: Openverse