The Casey Commission is being set up to recommend long-term reform by examining current issues. It will work with people drawing on care and support, families, staff, politicians and the public, private and third sector. Proposed changes will be designed to help lead the way to the ‘national care service’ in England.
Led by former senior civil servant Baroness Louise Casey, the commission is the third on social care reform in England over the past 30 years.
The Commission will report in two phases. Phase 1, reporting in 2026, is focused on measures for improvement within the current resources. In phase 2, reporting by 2028, longer-term recommendations will be made for the transformation of the sector – re-shaping it to meet current needs and future demands.
Making the announcement on 3 January 2025, Care Minister Stephen Kinnock said: “Baroness Casey’s commission will build cross-party consensus, and will lay the foundations for a national care service that’s rooted in fairness and equality.
“It will tackle both the immediate issues and the fundamental challenges that must be addressed if we are to get our adult social care system back on its feet and fit for the future.”
Timescale concern
Layla Moran MP, the chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, has expressed her concern at the timescale. Her committee is investigating the costs and impact resulting from historic delays to reform by successive governments.
Sir Andrew Dilnot, who led the last social care commission in 2010-11 told this committee on 8 January that he believed the final proposals should be delivered by the end of this year. He said: “Somehow, social care is still pretty invisible.”
When asked why he thought successive governments, including this one, have abandoned plans, he answered: “Somehow, for reasons I do not quite understand, not enough people make enough noise about it, so it feels like an easy thing to pull back from.”
Meeting with Minister
Following the announcement the Minister agreed to attend a Q&A session about the commission, facilitated by the Adult Social Care APPG on 20 January.
Achieve together’s Director of Wellbeing, Michael Fullerton, Campaign 4 Change member Mary Woodall and Co-production Manager, Elmi Terjavjainena attended to learn more about the plans for the commission and raise questions and concerns.
At the meeting, Mary Woodall impressed upon the Minister the need to ensure people with profound and multiple learning disabilities were included in the minds of the commission. That they were not forgotten. She also raised concern about the impact of recruitment issues in social care from the perspective of people with lived experience.
She explained: “Having to meet and trust new support workers because of turnover is difficult and unsettling. Until the Government puts social care pay on the same level as NHS Banding it will continue to be a challenge.”
Greater support required
Achieve together continues to be concerned following this meeting about the more immediate support to the social care sector. Many small, medium and large providers of support face mounting financial and workforce challenges.
Michael Fullerton said: “While the commission is very much welcomed, the economic and workforce challenges facing the sector is already in crisis. The autumn budget will impact people who draw on social care significantly.
“Achieve together has structures in place to ensure stability and continuity for people we support, however many otherproviders may be in a less robust position. Unless the Government provides greater support to the sector immediately directly or via local authorities many more providers will need to cease delivering support packages, close homes and be unable to develop new homes/supported living.
“Our partnership work with other stakeholders to raise awareness of the situation is ongoing. Ultimately people most impacted will be those who rely on good quality social support.”
