The Prime Minister has announced a series of measures aimed at accelerating long-awaited reform of adult social care, including bringing forward Baroness Casey’s independent review by a year and launching a nationwide “Big Conversation” to shape the future of care.
Speaking alongside Health Secretary Yvette Cooper and Baroness Casey, the Prime Minister acknowledged that social care has been the subject of repeated reviews over many years but said this time “must be different”.
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper opened the event by recognising the vital contribution made by care workers and describing social care as one of the country’s biggest long-term challenges. She announced the launch of the Big Conversation, a nationwide engagement exercise designed to give the public a direct voice in shaping future reforms. She also confirmed the creation of a new ministerial group to drive forward improvements to the care system and workforce, alongside the appointment of a dementia tsar later this year.
Baroness Casey said her commission had already spent time listening to people across the country about their experiences of social care. Unlike previous reviews, she said this work would place the public at the centre of the conversation to help identify practical solutions that command broad support.
Drawing on his own family’s experience of Alzheimer’s disease, the Prime Minister said social care reform was a personal priority. He praised the dedication of care workers, arguing they should be recognised and rewarded far more highly for the work they do.
He also stressed that social care should no longer be treated separately from the NHS, describing it as an essential part of the wider health system. He highlighted the pressures created when people cannot access the care they need, leading to unnecessary hospital admissions and an over-reliance on short, 15-minute care visits.
The Prime Minister announced three key steps:
- Baroness Casey’s independent review will now conclude in 2027, one year earlier than originally planned.
- The Government will explore expanding the proposed Fair Pay Agreement into wider reforms that bring social care careers closer to NHS standards through improvements to pay, training and professional development.
- Cross-party talks will begin in an effort to build long-term consensus on the future of adult social care.
During a question-and-answer session, the Prime Minister said previous governments had delayed reform for too long and argued that bringing forward the review would help maintain momentum. Asked how improvements would be funded, he said the Government would first focus on making better use of existing resources and confirmed that planned workforce measures would be fully funded. He also said discussions about assisted dying should come after improvements to palliative and social care, reiterated his commitment to the Government’s manifesto position on taxation, and said that, ideally, nobody should have to sell their home to pay for care.
Later Life Ambitions welcomes renewed focus
Later Life Ambitions has consistently argued that social care reform can no longer be delayed. While today’s announcements represent an important step forward, they must now lead to meaningful action.
The coalition has called for a National Social Care Framework with consistent standards across England, backed by a sustainable long-term funding settlement that gives both those receiving care and providers greater certainty. It has also highlighted the need to invest in the social care workforce through improved pay, training and career development, while ensuring that health and social care services work together more effectively to deliver joined-up support.
The decision to bring forward Baroness Casey’s review and place greater emphasis on workforce reform reflects many of the challenges that Later Life Ambitions has been raising. The coalition will continue to engage with the review and the Big Conversation to ensure the voices of pensioners and those in later life are heard as plans develop.
