Ategi CEO responds to Government's proposed 'Next Steps to Support Social Care'

By Kate Allen, Ategi’s Chief Executive Officer

I think we all agree with the Minister of State for Social Care, Helen Whately MP, who acknowledged yesterday that adult social care has not had the attention, resource or support from government that it deserves. However, to the statement that social care is being reformed, I am yet to be persuaded.

Ategi welcomes the Government’s recognition that social care needs further investment and their commitment for £16.8 billion funding through a Better Care Framework that will strive to ensure care is provided when and where people need it. However, the 2021 white paper ‘People at the Heart of Care’ said that at least £500 million would be invested on the workforce in training, development and pay recognition whereas the government announcement yesterday would appear to reduce that to £250 million. This is deeply disappointing but I hope (ever the optimist) this is because they are referring to the next 2 years (2023 – 2025) whereas the white paper was a 10 year plan.

There were announcements of other funding streams with £100million to accelerate digitalisation in social care (and thereby achieve great efficiencies and better delivery of care support) and a £1.4 billion Market Sustainability & Improvement Fund for local authorities to use flexibly with social care providers.

It was gratifying and encouraging to see the Shared Lives model getting a mention, however, I found it simultaneously frustrating to see reference to it being innovative and new when Shared Lives carers have been working long and hard for many years! But we will take the win and recognition where we can get it and hope that this will see appreciation for the model of support and our carers improve, and, therefore, ensure more support options are created for people with additional needs.

Read announcement here:  Government sets out next steps to support social care - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Read the full report here: Next steps to put People at the Heart of Care - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

It was gratifying and encouraging to see the Shared Lives model getting a mention, however, I found it simultaneously frustrating to see reference to it being innovative and new when Shared Lives carers have been working long and hard for many years!