The National Care Forum (NCF) – the leading association for not-for-profit social care has today signed an unprecedented joint open letter that has been sent to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting. The letter is signed and endorsed by over 30 social care leaders, and people with lived experience, representing organisations and voices from the whole of the sector. It registers concern with the new government’s decision to scrap funding that was set aside for the training and upskilling of social care workers.
Excerpts from the letter include:
“The last few days have raised alarm bells for those working in adult social care and those drawing on care and support services.”
“Significant delays by the previous government left social care vulnerable to cuts because programmes were not nailed down. We urge this government not to continue that pattern. Future commitments must be steeped in an understanding of the importance of valuing and respecting those whose everyday lives depend on social care delivery and employment. For millions of people, social care has the power to transform everyday life. Cutting these vital programmes has not only a material impact on all of their lives, but the lives of loved ones, friends, and families.”
It also says:
“We now need to see positive action on social care. There is time, political capital, and expertise of a united social care sector to make this happen. We urge the government to change course and stand ready to help you transform social care for the millions working in it and most vitally relying upon it.”
Vic Rayner OBE, CEO of NCF commented: “This letter demonstrates the sector’s willingness to work with the government to find creative and feasible solutions to the entrenched issues social care faces.
“It acts as a clarion call to the government to put social care front and centre of its agenda. The decisions made by the government this week will affect the huge number of people drawing on care and support and those working across services. We are committed to working with the new government and want this shared message to ensure that priority and focus is given to social care from the outset of this new administration.
“As the not-for-profit social care sector, we stand ready to work with the new government constructively. The combined expertise of our diverse membership means we can help shape plans for a National Care Service and Fair Pay Agreement, but we need confirmation of when that work will start and what our role will be.
“Cross party commitments to social care need consultation and communication with the sector and leadership from government. Only through collaboration can we learn from the past to shape the workforce of the future.”
