Independent commission on adult social care announced: CCN responds

Today the government has announced an independent commission for reforming adult social care, chaired by Louise Casey.

Split into two phases, this cross-party commission will report firstly in mid-2026 and then will set out a longer-term plan ‘by 2028’.

Below, the County Councils Network responds:

Cllr Martin Tett, Adult Social Care Spokesperson for the County Councils Network, said:

“Over the last two decades, wholescale reform of adult social care has never materialised due to unfunded costs and a lack of cross-party support, so efforts to create a long-term plan for reform that has a national consensus are laudable. But in order for reform to be a success, it is vital that the voice of local government, which really understands the issues to be debated, is prominent in this review, and social care remains a local service when the National Care Service is created. 

“Social care is complex and frequently misunderstood. It is not just about who pays the care costs of the elderly; it includes the many working age adults with special needs who constitute two thirds of a typical council’s commissioned social care expenditure and also  includes the NHS and their responsibilities for support in and outside hospitals. Therefore, it is imperative that this review looks to address all parts of the social care system. This means it must have a wider scope than just looking at care costs for individuals who are not eligible for state care. The review must also consider how any new ‘national’ system would deliver better national standards, and the workforce required.

“With the purpose of the National Care Service vague and ill-defined at present, the financial pressures on councils are intense and growing and so our members are clear that their number one priority is sustainable funding for social care alongside a long-term workforce plan. As our ‘Manifesto for Counties’ set out, councils must remain at the heart of delivering services, structural changes that are unnecessary and bureaucratic must be avoided, and reforms should develop community care and create more housing with social care at its heart.

“Importantly, we are concerned over the timescales announced today which mean that vital changes will not be introduced for at least three more years. With adult social care under significant pressure at the moment, the system is likely to deteriorate further by 2028 so it is imperative that next year’s Spending Review provides long-term resource for councils to stabilise the system and ensure that the preventative focus of this review becomes a reality, otherwise the National Care Service could fall at the first hurdle.”