We sign joint statement on Spending Review

Investing in adult social care for people and communities 

With not long to go until the Government’s spending review announcement on 11 June, today, Community Integrated Care has joined hundreds of other organisations by signing a joint statement with the Local Government Association (LGA) calling for further support for our sector.  

You can read the full statement below: 

What makes us happy and fulfilled? The answer to this question will be unique and personal to each of us. But if everyone shared their views, we would likely see some common themes emerge. Family and friendships, hobbies and interests, new experiences, work or volunteering. These, and the myriad other potential answers, are the things that make us feel human, alive and valued. They connect us to ourselves, to those around us and to the places in which we live.

Whether by luck or design, many of us will enjoy a life in which the opportunities for these connections to flourish will exist largely unimpeded. For others of us, different degrees of support may be required to maintain those connections. For some, the level of support required may be relatively low. But for others, a significant degree of on-going support may be needed. Adult social care covers this full spectrum and at its best – when properly resourced and organised – is an important means by which adults of all ages, with different reasons for drawing on care and support, are able to live their best life and do the things that matter most to them. 

The value and reach of adult social care extends outward to society, too. It has a workforce that is bigger than that of the NHS. It contributes an estimated £68.1 billion to the national economy. It supports unpaid carers to care for loved ones, saving the state an estimated £184 billion per year. And it is critical to a well-functioning NHS, and the delivery of the Government’s ambitions for our health service.   

Despite the best efforts of councils, care providers, the voluntary sector and the workforce, we all know that adult social care is not operating at its best. People who have cause to draw on support know that best of all. Report after report shows the consequences of under-investment over many years – on people, families, communities, businesses and other public services. 

With the Spending Review now less than three weeks away, the Government has a crucial opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to the future of adult social care. It has already taken steps to address the longer-term future of care and support, through the creation of the Casey Commission. But resolving the long-term requires stability in the short-term and strong foundations from which to take forward meaningful reforms.   

In the past, governments have looked for savings and efficiencies to help plug immediate gaps. The scope for those is now extremely limited and the clear reality is that current funding levels are insufficient to tackle the challenges facing the sector, such as inflation, demography, workforce recruitment and retention, the inability to invest in prevention, and provider instability. Without significant new funding in the Spending Review, the coming months will likely be the most difficult we’ve seen in recent years for all parts of the sector and – most important of all – for people who draw on care and support.  

If the Government gets fully behind adult social care, recognises its inherent value to us all, and sees funding for it as an investment rather than a cost, we can avoid the level of risk described above. It is an opportunity that people across the country cannot afford to see missed. We therefore call on the Treasury to work with the care and support sector to either find a way to mitigate the pressures on councils, providers and charities as described above, or use the forthcoming Spending Review to inject significant new funding into the system. 

Looking further ahead, as organisations spanning the breadth of the adult social care and support sector, we stand ready to work with the Government, and on a cross-party basis, as equal partners, to bring about the longer-term changes that are needed to build a care and support system that enables everyone to live the life they want to lead.  

Collaborating with the Government to ensure a secure and sustainable future for adult social care is an incredible opportunity to make a lasting impact. By working together and supporting one another, we can build a system that not only meets the needs of today but also lays a strong foundation for future generations. Teamwork and shared commitment are the keys to success in this vital endeavour. 

 

Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair, Local Government Association (LGA) 

Cllr Kevin Bentley, Conservative Group Leader and Senior Vice Chairman, LGA 

Cllr Bev Craig, Labour Group Leader and Vice Chair, LGA 

Cllr Joe Harris, Liberal Democrat Group Leader and Vice Chair, LGA 

Cllr Marianne Overton MBE, Independent Group Leader and Vice Chair, LGA 

Jess McGregor, President, Association of Directors of Adult Social Services 

Robin Tuddenham, President, Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers 

Maris Stratulis, National Director, BASW England, British Association of Social Workers 

Riki Moody, Chief Officer, Gloucestershire Care Providers Association 

Mike Padgham, Chair, Saint Cecilia’s Care Group 

Karyn Kirkpatrick, Chief Executive, KeyRing Living Support Networks 

Helen Walker, Chief Executive, Carers UK 

James Lloyd, Director of Policy and Communication, Associated Retirement Community Operators 

Dr Rhidian Hughes, Chief Executive, Voluntary Organisations Disability Group 

Caroline Abrahams CBE, Charity Director, Age UK 

David Smallacombe, Chief Executive, Care and Support West 

Keiron Broadbent, Chief Executive, West Midlands Care Association 

Pip Cannons, Chief Executive, Community Catalysts 

Dr Jane Townson OBE, Chief Executive, Homecare Association 

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive, Care England 

Sarah Burslem, Chief Executive, MacIntyre 

Andrea Wiggins, Chief Executive, Vibrance 

Rachael Dodgson, Chief Executive, Dimensions 

Pierre Falleth, Director, Milford Care and Vice Chair, Derbyshire Care Providers Association 

David Brindle, Chair, Ambient Support 

Jackie O’Sullivan, Executive Director of Strategy and Influence, Mencap 

Melanie Weatherley MBE, Co-Chair, Care Association Alliance and Chair, Lincolnshire Care Association 

Victoria Buyer, England Director (Interim), ARC 

Caroline Abrahams CBE, Jackie O’Sullivan, Emily Holzhausen CBE, Co-Chairs, Care and Support Alliance 

Ann Taylor, Chair, Kent Integrated Care Alliance 

Professor Vic Rayner OBE, Chief Executive, National Care Forum 

Erica Lockhart MBE, Chair, South East Social Care Alliance 

Aisling Duffy, Chief Executive, Certitude 

Karolina Gerlich, Chief Executive, Care Workers Charity 

Jim Kane, Chief Executive, Community Integrated Care 

Dania Hanif, Interim Chief Executive, Association of Mental Health Providers 

Jack Marshall BEM, Scott Watkin BEM and Kate Chate, Co-Chairs elected members representatives, Learning Disability England 

Andrew Beland, Chief Executive, Choice Support 

Jeff Skipp, Chief Executive, Ability Housing Association 

Craig Crowley, Chief Executive, Action Deafness  

Maria Mills, Chief Executive, Active Prospects  

Kerry Deardan, Chief Executive, Affinity Trust  

David Coe, Chief Executive, AFK  

Robert Shanahan, Chief Executive, Aspens  

Gill Bryant, Chief Executive, Aurora Nexus  

Sarah Butcher, Chief Executive, Autism at Kingwood  

Jo Land, Chief Executive, Avenues  

Azra Kirkby, Chief Executive, St Anne’s Community Services  

Ray Booth, Chief Executive, Barnet Mencap  

Irene Sobowale, Chief Executive, Brainkind  

Anna McEwen, Chief Executive, Bromley Mencap  

Sara Thakkar, Chief Executive, Camphill Village Trust  

Sarah Edwards, Chief Executive, Canterbury Oast Trust  

Gareth Groves, Chief Executive, Chiltern Centre  

Victoria Neish, Chief Executive, Coquet Trust  

John Heritage, Chief Executive, David Lewis  

Angela Murphy, Chief Executive, Fitzroy  

Angela Duce, Chief Executive, Harpenden Mencap  

Sarah Lantsbury, Chief Executive, Headway East London  

Sally Daniels, Chief Executive Henshaws  

Stephen Veevers, Chief Executive, Hft  

Anna O’Mahony, Chief Executive, Hollybank Trust  

Ruth Gorman, Chief Executive, Imagine Act and Succeed  

Caroline Collier, Chief Executive, Inclusion Barnett  

Gabby Machell, Chief Executive, Learning Disability Network London  

Valerie Waby, Chief Executive, Linkage Community Trust  

Chris Hampton, Chief Executive, Look Ahead  

Rachel Peacock, Chief Executive, Making Space  

Hilary Crowhurst, Chief Executive, Milestones Trust  

Caroline Stevens, Chief Executive, National Autistic Society  

Diane Hesketh, Chief Executive, Natural Breaks  

Jo Howell, Chief Executive, Northam Care Trust  

Naomi Dickson, Chief Executive, Norwood  

Tracey Bush, Chief Executive, One Fylde  

Nicky Boland, Chief Executive, Outward  

Sarah Miller, Chief Executive, Papworth Trust  

Alison Cooper, Chief Executive, Parity for Disability  

John Preston, Chief Executive, Percy Hedley Foundation  

Rachel Law, Chief Executive, PossAbilities  

Robin Bush, Chief Executive, Remarkable Autism  

Lisa Hopkins, Chief Executive, SeeAbility  

James Watson-O’Neill, Chief Executive, Sense  

Neil Blanchard, Chief Executive, Southdown  

Jill Rankin, Chief Executive, St Elizabeth’s  

Emma Morris, Chief Executive, Stockdales  

Sue Livett, Chief Executive, The Aldingbourne Trust  

Andrew Willetts, Chief Executive, The Orpheus Centre  

Julie Bass, Chief Executive, Turning Point  

Richard Jones, Chief Executive, VoiceAbility  

Holly Spiers, Chief Executive, Walsingham Support 

Sam Monaghan, Chief Executive, MHA 

Jo Howes, Chief Executive, Wiltshire Care Partnership 

David Crosby, Chief Officer, Partners in Care