Shaping the Future of Social Care

With a new Prime Minister pledging to put care at the heart of government, and pressure building for real reform, Community Integrated Care continues to make sure the sector’s voice is heard at every level – from Downing Street to our own front doors. Here’s a look at our response to the new Prime Minister, alongside some of our recent work engaging politicians and decision-makers on the future of social care.

We Respond To The Appointment Of The New Prime Minister

Following the recent appointment of Andy Burnham as Prime Minister, we welcome his recognition that social care must be treated as a national priority and call on the new Government to turn that ambition into practical action.

Jim Kane, Chief Executive Officer at Community Integrated Care, said:

“In his first words as Prime Minister, Andy Burnham spoke about putting ‘the care of people’ at the heart of everything government does. That principle resonates strongly in social care, where supporting people to live the lives they choose is the purpose that drives us every day.

The focus now has to be on turning that ambition into action. That means valuing care workers properly, funding services sustainably, and making sure reform reflects the full breadth of social care.

“We are ready to work constructively with the new Government and partners across the sector to help build a fairer, stronger, and more sustainable future for social care.”

Engaging Decision-Makers

Over the past two months, Community Integrated Care has welcomed a series of political figures to see our work first-hand and discuss the future of adult social care – part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the voice and experience of the sector shapes decisions made in Westminster, Holyrood and beyond.

Meeting the Shadow Health Secretary

In June, our Chief Executive, Jim Kane, and Head of Policy & Public Affairs, Ben Lehan-Powick, met with Stuart Andrew MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in Westminster. The conversation centred on the Casey Review and the urgent need for social care reform, with a strong focus on recognising care workers as a skilled and vital workforce. Jim shared how investing in colleagues has directly improved retention and care quality at Community Integrated Care – reinforcing that reform must be backed by real funding and shaped by the people who understand the sector best.

Joining the APPG on Tackling Loneliness

Edd Terrey, our Managing Director, joined a Westminster roundtable hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Tackling Loneliness and Connected Communities, chaired by Paul Davies MP. Edd shared insight into the barriers facing adults with learning disabilities and autistic people, highlighting how volunteering, employment and strong community partnerships help people build confidence, relationships and a sense of belonging. The discussion will feed directly into the APPG’s ongoing inquiry and future recommendations.

Welcoming an MSP to Inverurie

Later that month, we welcomed Gillian Martin MSP, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeenshire East and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs, to two of our services in Inverurie. Gillian toured one of our award-winning Inspire…By shops, seeing how it helps people with learning disabilities and autistic people build skills and community connections, before visiting St James Court Supported Living to meet colleagues and the people we support. Head of Operations Karen Wood said the visit was a chance to showcase how personalised, high-quality care enables independence and real choice.

Dame Caroline Dinenage Visits Fareham

In July, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP visited our care home in Fareham, meeting colleagues and the people we support before discussing sector challenges with Caroline Robins, Head of Operations. Talks focused on workforce sustainability, funding, and ensuring commissioning rates reflect the true cost of quality care – with the future Fair Pay Agreement a key topic.

Whether in Westminster, Holyrood, or on the ground in our services, these visits reflect a single, sustained approach: bringing policymakers face-to-face with the reality of social care, and ensuring the people who deliver and receive support have a direct voice in shaping its future.

Read more about our campaigning work.