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New reforms and independent commission to transform social care
On 3 January 2025 , the government announced plans for immediate investment and reforms to improve adult social care and support the workforce .
More people with disabilities will be supported to remain in their homes , thanks to the ‘ immediate action ’ it is taking ‘ to improve adult social care , support the care workforce and take pressure off the NHS ’.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting is set to confirm an £ 86 million ‘ boost ’ to the Disabled Facilities Grant for this financial year , to allow 7,800 more disabled and elderly people to make vital improvements to their home , allowing them to live more independent lives and reducing hospitalisations .
Alongside the funding , the government said its immediate action to support adult social care also includes harnessing the power of care technology to transform care and support older people to live at home for longer , cutting red tape to ensure billions of joint NHS and social care funding is keeping people healthy and taking pressure off the NHS , as well as improved career pathways for care workers and new national standards to ensure providers and families use the best care technology .
The government said it will also develop a shared digital platform to allow up-to-date medical information to be shared between the NHS and care staff , to ensure people receive the best possible care .
The changes announced will support the adult social care sector to give people the best possible care in the most appropriate place , it said . The government will also deliver on its Plan for Change , by reducing the amount of time patients spend in hospital .
Alongside this , the government announced it is ‘ kickstarting work ’ on the ‘ necessary long-term reform to overhaul social care and address the inherited challenges it faces ’.
As set out in the manifesto , this deep reform will include the creation of a national care service , underpinned by national standards , delivering consistency of care across the country .
As a first step , the government will launch an independent commission into adult social care , to be chaired by The Baroness Casey of Blackstock DBE CB , to inform the work needed to deliver this .
Separately , the government has said it will shortly publish a new policy framework for the Better Care Fund in 2025 to 2026 , to support local systems to deliver integrated health and social care in a way that supports patients and delivers better outcomes .
The new framework will focus £ 9 billion of NHS and local government funding on meeting two health priorities – moving care from hospital to the community and from sickness to prevention .
Commenting on the announcement about social care reforms and an independent commission , RCOT Policy and Public Affairs Lead for England , Joseph Brunwin , said : ‘ Social care reform is long overdue , and we welcome the independent commission and consultation on a new national care service .
‘ Careful and long-term planning is essential to ensure lasting and effective social care reform . However , the government should also be looking at the quick wins to make improvements for the people relying on social care now .
‘ Occupational therapists are involved with almost half of local authority referrals to social care , and over 3,000 occupational therapists work within the social care system itself .
‘ They play a vital role in enabling people to live independently , reducing hospital discharge delays , and easing pressure on both the NHS and social care services .
‘ We ’ re encouraged by steps towards a more sustainable and person-centred social care system , but this must be backed up by urgent investment in the occupational therapy workforce so people can receive the care and support they need while long-term reforms take shape .
‘ Investment in the social care workforce is critical , and more investment and more focus on recruitment and retention is vital . We look forward to working collaboratively with policymakers to support the development of a national care service that is both effective and achievable .’
Read more at https :// bit . ly / 404LXxg . Download the Plan for Change at www . gov . uk / government / publications / plan-for-change .
Investment in the social care workforce is critical , and more investment and more focus on recruitment and retention is vital . We look forward to working collaboratively with policymakers to support the development of a national care service that is both effective and achievable .”
January 2025 OTnews 7