Four out of five people want Boris Johnson to fulfil his promise to 'fix social care'

A "wasted decade" is how a coalition of 76 charities feel, with four out of five people saying they want Boris Johnson to fulfil his promise and fix social care “once and for all”.

The poll carried out by YouGov for the 76 charities who campaign together as the Care and Support Alliance (CSA) is being published this week to mark the tenth anniversary since the publication of the Dilnot Commission’s report.

The report was ordered by the coalition government, led by David Cameron, in 2010 to deal with the 'catastrophic cost' of adult social care. They published their recommendations on 4 July 2011, but today social care remains chronically underfunded, with most local councils struggling to meet the care needs of their communities.

Caroline Abrahams, co-chair of the CSA and charity director of Age UK, said: “It’s extremely encouraging that more than four in five of the public want the Prime Minister to fulfil his pledge to “fix social care, once and for all”.

"As charities who work with older and disabled people, and their unpaid carers, we know what a fantastic difference this would make to their lives.

"It’s galling to think what a wasted decade this has been for social care here when so many other countries have put their social care provision on a firm financial basis and brought it up to date. In many respects, social care has got worse here over these ten years and the huge rise in staff vacancies is a big part of the reason why since it is impossible to deliver consistently decent, reliable care if there aren’t enough care workers to do the job."

The CSA also said the government needs to put an "injection of funding" into councils’ budgets, to meet the care needs of local communities, and to strengthen and professionalise the social care workforce.

"Our care workers have performed valiantly throughout the pandemic and now they deserve their reward,” added Ms Abrahams.

’We are still waiting to see what government will produce in its proposals for a long-term, sustainable funding solution’

Meanwhile, the Local Government Association (LGA) has also called for a proposal on the future of adult social care, including the timetable for reform to be brought in before Parliament ends for the summer.

Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Social care has been on the frontline throughout the pandemic, supporting people of all ages to be safe and well in the most extremely challenging of circumstances.

“Despite the extraordinary commitment and endeavours of all those who work in and draw upon social care, we are still waiting to see what government will produce in its proposals for a long-term, sustainable funding solution and a vision for a care and support system that is fit for the 21st century.

“We also face a huge recruitment and retention crisis in the care workforce, with more than 100,000 vacancies and action urgently needed on pay, conditions, professionalisation, skills and training.

“Any proposals should set out a positive vision for what the future of care and support should be. Social care is not just valuable in its own right, but can play an integral part in building back better from the pandemic in flourishing and connected communities, where people are able to live the lives they want to lead.

“Our new Secretary of State has the unique perspective of previously being in charge of both the Treasury and at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, which we believe puts him in an excellent position to finally bring forward these long-awaited proposals before recess and help secure the future of social care for all.”

Labour has also warned that the government has had over a decade to set out the ‘general direction’ of social care reforms, but have continually “failed to do so.”

Shadow minister for social care Liz Kendall said: "Social care staff, users and their families have heard enough excuses – it’s time to see the plan the Prime Minister said he had prepared in 2019.”

’We are calling on the public to contact their MPs’

The United Kingdom Home Care Association (UKHCA) and CSA are calling on the public to write or email their local MPs and encourage others to write to their MPs as well.

The UKHCA, one of 50 organisations that have written to the PM, urging him to take action is asking its members to join in with the campaign by writing to their MP and spreading the word on social media using the hashtag #KeepYourPromiseBoris.

Nearly 100 weeks ago, Boris Johnson, promised to ‘fix the crisis in social care once and for all' but since then, two million requests for care and support have been turned down.

Ms Abrahams said: “We are calling on the public to contact their MPs, to ask them to ensure there’s real action on social care this year, not just the warm words and excuses we’re all fed up of hearing.

"Now we are starting to emerge from the pandemic, which has taken such a toll in social care, it’s time for the Prime Minister to stand by his word and for politicians in all parties to demonstrate leadership on an issue which should be above politics."