Successive governments 'asleep at the wheel' over social care, says head of review
Summary
Baroness Louise Casey, who leads an independent review of adult social care in England, said successive governments had failed to oversee the sector. Research published by her commission found uneven services across regions and said people who pay for their own care are charged more than councils pay for care they arrange.Key Facts
- Casey said adult social care developed without the deliberate planning used to establish the NHS in 1948.
- She said people with the same condition can face different assessments, waiting times and levels of support depending on where they live.
- Commission research found self-funders pay an average of 40% more than councils pay for care they arrange.
- The research described England as an international outlier because it lacks a clear system for overseeing social care.
- Casey said private providers dominate the care market and criticized the Care Quality Commission’s oversight.
- A recent Covid inquiry report said social care appeared to be an afterthought early in the pandemic and that Covid spread rapidly in the sector.
- Casey’s final recommendations for services for older people and adults with disabilities are due next summer.
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