Creating a Britain that Works and Cares
Published by the Centre for Social Justice, this research highlights the importance of carers in society, using survey analysis to make the economic and fiscal case for better support of working-age carers and offering 30 recommendations for action. The in-depth report and anaylsis includes details on fiscal benefits, registration and navigation, domiciliary care, housing, community, employment and digital tools and technology.
The CSJ's cost benefit analysis makes the case for three key policies to provide the support that working-age carers need as incentives for their return or entry into paid employment, including free adaptations to make the homes of those they care for safer and more accessible. The work sheds light on national and international examples of best practice, collaboration and community involvement, with one being the Serious Game, an initiative piloted in Southwark, which brings together policy-makers, developers, service deliverers and the older population.
Sections on housing include recommendations to:
- ensure National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) guidelines to local authorities specify the inclusion of the ten HAPPI principles to the design of new build developments;
- revise the NPPF to explicitly require all local plans to include a specific policy and target for new wheelchair accessible homes, known as M4(3); and
- create a new planning use class that takes into account the very specific nature of retirement housing.
Chapter 9 on Digital tools and technology includes international case studies on technology-enabled care, “Hospital at Home” care and recommendations to enable digital inclusion.