Decades of underfunding and lack of action has left social care in a shocking state.

Currently at least 2.6m people go without the care they need. Inadequate social care provision is having very real consequences for millions of older and disabled people and their unpaid carers.

Real leadership and action are desperately needed to give the country the social care it needs, and it is the job of the Government to urgently provide this.

Providing sustainable funding for care and proper support for staff is the only way millions of older people, disabled people and their carers, will get the support they need to live happy and fulfilling lives. When it works well, social care enables people to get out and about, socialise, work, volunteer and live the life they choose. Failure to act would be a betrayal.

The Care and Support Alliance, of over 50 charities, is asking politicians to:

1) Address the shortfall in current social care spending and put in place a long-term funding commitment to meet future demand. Piecemeal pots of funding will not deliver the change, services or stability the sector and care users need.

2) Address the significant issues facing the social care workforce, including pay, conditions, career development and skills recognition, as part of a new social care workforce strategy.

3) Support local authorities to tackle social care assessment and carer’s assessment waiting lists.

4) Develop a new National Carers Strategy including investing in carers’ breaks, introducing paid carer’s leave, and urgently reviewing Carer’s Allowance and other social security benefits that carers can claim.

5) Remove social care charging for working-aged disabled adults, so they don’t have to part-fund their care from state benefits designed to pay for their daily living costs, like food and heating.

For social care it’s time for action, not words.