Casey Commission calls for a moment of reckoning on adult social care

In a speech on 5 March at the Nuffield Trust Summit, Baroness Casey, Chair of the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care, said social care has never had its own “creation moment” and called for a national reckoning equivalent to Beveridge’s reforms in 1948.

In her speech and an accompanying press release, Baroness Casey outlined how there is currently a reliance on cobbled together underfunded services relying on low-paid care workers, a lack of ownership and accountability, and a deep divide between health and social care, which families are left to navigate alone. 

Baroness Casey highlighted initial actions that government can take. These included prominent actions on dementia, motor neurone disease (MND) and safeguarding. There was also reference to housing, in particular, addressing the "unacceptable " delays to adaptations in the home and a call for a "care passport" to speed up assessments, especially for those living with MND. There was little on how other "care-ready" housing and technology interventions can contribute to delivering better care outcomes at home. However, the Casey Commission is still keen to receive evidence and has set up an online evidence portal (opens new window) where anyone can submit their insights, experiences and ideas for change directly to the team. There is therefore still time to showcase what housing and technology can achieve. 

The Commission will be undertaken in two phases, with the first report to be published later this year and the final phase reporting back by 2028. The Housing LIN looks forward to covering each phase.

And if you found this of interest, read Jeremy Porteus' recent LIN blog here.