The independent commission that will lay the groundwork for a new national care service in England has officially got underway.
The government has today published the terms of reference for Baroness Casey of Blackstock’s review of adult social care.
“I want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to contribute to this important work”
Baroness Casey of Blackstock
The terms of reference set out that the commission will report directly to the prime minister and will be split over two phases.
The first phase is expected to be complete by 2026 and will focus on changes that can be made over the medium term within existing resources.
The second phase will report by 2028 and will consider “the long-term transformation of adult social care, setting us on the road to fundamental reform that will build a social care system fit for the future”.
The Department of Health and Social Care said the commission would “start a national conversation about what adult social care should deliver for citizens and build consensus with the public on how best to meet the current and future needs of the population”.
It said the commission would form the “critical first steps towards delivering a national care service”, a manifesto committment by the current Labour government.
Starting work earlier this week, Baroness Casey met with some carers, disabled people, advocates and campaigners on Tuesday to hear about their experience of the current care system.
Baroness Casey said: “It was important that the first act of this commission should be about hearing from those with real, lived experience of the current social care system.
“I want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to contribute to this important work, shaping a social care system that supports people to lead fulfilling, dignified and enriched lives.”
Social care leaders said the commission was a “once-in-a-generation chance” to address the issues facing the sector.
Kathryn Smith, chief executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence, said: “For too long, we’ve been stuck in social care’s version of Groundhog Day with report after report, commission after commission, but little in the way of lasting change.
“The Casey Commission is our moment to break the cycle. This is not just about fixing a broken system; it’s about reimagining how we care for each other as a society.”
She added that support and understanding from the public had been the “missing link” in previous attempts to reform adult social care, and she hoped this time would be different.
“The commission gives us a once-in-a-generation chance to build consensus across the public, politicians and the social care sector to secure a system that helps people live the lives they want – in homes they love, connected to their communities, with control and dignity,” she said.
Current problems facing the sector included people going without their care needs met, workforce shortages and financial strain on local authorities and providers, added Ms Smith.
The Local Government Association (LGA) echoed Ms Smith’s observations.
David Fothergill, chair of the LGA Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Key issues the commission must address include establishing a far greater emphasis on prevention, earlier action and support.
“Likewise, tackling the recruitment and retention challenges facing the workforce must be a priority.”
He said improving staffing in the sector would require improvements to pay, training and progression opportunities.
Urging the commission to make sure councils were involved in the review, Mr Fothergill also wanted to see the timescales shortened.
“While we recognise the commission’s timescales, we urge the government to revisit these to reflect the urgency of the situation, and the reality that people and organisations have already waited long enough for real change,” he said.
Concerns had previously been raised by nursing leaders that the timeline for the commission was too long.
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) general secretary and chief executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said in January that a commission due to report in three years’ time “will do little to solve the crisis in the here and now”.
