The Independent Care Group (ICG) has urged the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to seize a once-in-a-generation opportunity to properly transform social care and not leave it at the bottom of the pile in the upcoming spending review.
With the Government promising to deliver growth and cut NHS waiting lists, the ICG says that neither will be possible without bold and sustained investment in the country’s struggling social care sector.
Mike Padgham, Chair of the Independent Care Group, said:
“We urge the Chancellor: do not forget social care. For decades, we’ve been left on the sidelines, underfunded, undervalued and overlooked. But this is the Government’s moment to be bold, to invest in a sector that not only delivers care but drives economic growth”.
“For every £1 spent on social care, the economy gets £1.75 back. That’s a return any Chancellor should be proud of. If the Government wants to unlock growth, help fix NHS waiting lists and support families across the country, social care is the key, not the poor relation. It currently contributes around £68 billion to the economy”.
The ICG points to the 131,000 vacancies in social care as clear evidence that the sector is at breaking point. Staffing shortages are preventing some social care from being delivered, leaving people in hospital beds that are medically fit for discharge and therefore adding pressure to the NHS.
Mr Padgham added: “You can’t fix the NHS without fixing social care. People can’t be discharged from hospital because the care isn’t there. Families are being forced to step in or go without. The knock-on effects are devastating and preventable”.
“This isn’t just about care, it’s about our economy. Investing in social care boosts employment, supports communities, and builds resilience. It’s time we stop treating it as a cost and start seeing it as the investment it truly is”.
The ICG says the sector has waited too long for reform. Over thirty years of broken promises, green papers and white papers have done little to address deep-rooted funding and workforce issues.
“We’ve been patient. But the time for delay is over. Social care deserves its day in the spotlight and that day is now”, Mr Padgham said.
The ICG is calling for the forthcoming spending review to include:
• A long-term funding settlement for social care
• A national workforce plan to address chronic shortages
• Fair pay for care staff, with parity to their NHS counterparts
• Recognition of social care’s economic contribution and its vital role in national recovery
Mr Padgham concluded: “We need brave decisions. Investing in social care is not just the right thing to do, it’s smart economics. The new Government has the opportunity to deliver a real legacy. Let this be the moment it puts social care at the heart of its vision for Britain”.
