Future Social Care Coalition

Time for Action on Social Care

We believe it is time for the Government to act and time for you to support and protect the social care workforce in the UK. There has never been a more urgent time for Government to back a fair deal for under-valued social care workers – the forgotten frontline. The Future Social Care Coalition is a cross-party and cross sector group which includes senior politicians, employer groups and the largest union in social care. The Coalition is chaired by Rt Hon Alistair Burt, former Minister of State for Community and Social Care, Phil Hope, former Minister of State for Care Services, Rt Hon Stephen Dorrell, Former Secretary of State for Health, and Christina McAnea, General Secretary, UNISON.

Those who care for the most vulnerable in society deserve a better deal. The Future Social Care Coalition wants to secure seismic change, transform the social care sector and is urging the Government to take immediate action to deliver:

Parity for the social care sector with the NHS: if social care is to improve and increase health and wellbeing outcomes, the social care service must no longer be treated as the ‘forgotten frontline’
A comprehensive social care workforce strategy which builds on our Social Care People Plan Framework, which is designed to generate skills training, professionalism and improve pay and conditions for social care workers
A substantial and immediate funding boost for social care and, in the longer term, a social care funding solution that is both equitable and sustainable

More than 100 cross- party MPs, peers and those from across the social care sector have written to the Chancellor to demand a Fair Deal and immediate social care workforce reform.

The letter from the Future Social Care Coalition has more than 100 signatories. Its supporters, including five current or former health ministers, leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey, top social care industry bodies and people who work in and draw on social care have written to the Chancellor to make the economic case for social care workforce reform and demand Government publish its long-awaited plans to get social care done.

The letter, sent to the Chancellor by the cross-party, cross-sector Future Social Care Coalition and signed by 102 people and organisations, urges the Chancellor to keep his Government’s promises for social care workforce reform, which despite being promised at both the Spending Review and Queen’s Speech, are yet to be published in full.

The Coalition has made economic case for reforming the social care workforce in the letter, highlighting that the sector is worth £41 billion to the economy annually. The social care sector has huge potential for growth, with demand likely to increase over the next 15 years, creating 520,000 new jobs. However, with current vacancies estimated at 112,000 and staff turnover rates high, urgent action is required to level-up the social care workforce.

Tuesday 19th July is SOCIAL CARE LOBBY DAY. Hundreds of social care workers, providers and those who draw on social care will gather in Westminster to lobby MPs and Peers. Find out how you can support and get involved HERE.