Key voices in the care and support world came together and discussed the key issues facing the care and support system, to give their views to national and local politicians.
It was a helpful, broad ranging, high level discussion that helped to build consensus towards a White Paper . This report summarises views given by attendees at the conference and was agreed by delegates at the final session as a summary to provide to politicians.
Consensus around the Vision…
There was consensus around the vision for the National Care Service
• A national care service, where individuals make a contribution in partnership with the state
• A system which enables assessments of need to be portable across the country, but delivered locally with local government in the lead
• A personalised system, giving individuals and families maximum control of the care and support they get
• A priority for preventative care and early support
• A joined-up service where all the services that you need will work together smoothly. This includes better joined up working between health, housing social care and the disability benefits systems
• Clear information and advice so people can understand and find their way through the care and support system, including disability benefits and health
But we also agreed…
In addition to this Vision reform also needed to
• Give more emphasis to the vital role that carers, families and communities make to the system,
• Give more emphasis to the importance of including adults of working age, ensuring this part of the system is fully funded and better managing transition from childhood to adulthood
• Recognise that workforce planning and development are critical to the quality of care and support
• A wider range of high quality services to support people to experience personalised services
• Give people more detail on delivery, including winners and losers, and no perverse incentives
• Be clear whether it is a national system or service
• Not be isolated from other services e.g. housing, leisure, transport
• Support people as citizens, not passive recipients
• Promote opportunities for better integration between disability benefits and the social care system
• Recognise that a good care and support system will not only deliver quality care for the individual and their family but will also provide an infrastructure to support employers and increase wealth
There was concern over the possible reform of disability benefits
• Everyone acknowledged that such benefits provide valuable support to a wide range of people, for a range of disability-related costs. It was agreed that existing or potential recipients should not lose out
• People were fearful that reforming disability benefits would impact on their quality of life and independence
• Any reform needs to capture the strengths of the current benefits system, including universality
Comprehensive is the emerging consensus
• On balance, the majority view is in support of a comprehensive system, with a variety of ways to pay the contribution.
• An element of compulsion was supported, whether soft or hard
• Universality and fairness is important and we need to consider people’s ability to make a contribution (progressive, not a flat rate)
• The contribution of carers needs to be taken into account and recognised in the payment options
• Any system needs to be simple and understandable
• There needs to be clarity over what you receive in return for your contribution
• On balance the majority view was to reject the Green Paper options of ‘Partnership’ and ‘Insurance’
• Any change may need to be phased in over a period of time, recognising affordability
• Any system needs to work for future generations as well as the immediate cohort
• The conference regretted that the option of general taxation had not been explored
List of attendees:
Imelda Redmond – Carers UK Chief Executive
Des Kelly – National Care Forum Executive Director
Martin Green – English Community Care Association Chief Executive
Michelle Mitchell – Age Concern & Help the Aged Charity Director
Lynne Berry – WRVS Chief Executive
Ciaran Devane – Macmillan Cancer Support Chief Executive
Sue Bott National – Centre for Independent Living Director
Carole Cochrane – Princess Royal Trust for Carers Chief Executive
Dame Philippa Russell – Standing Commission on Carers Chair
Matt Davies – Department for Work & Pensions
David Oliver – Department of Health National Clinical Director for Older People
Alistair Burns – Department of Health National Clinical Director for Dementia
Anthea Cox – Learning Disability Coalition Director
Nicola Kay – HM Treasury Senior Policy Adviser, Health Team
Richard Harries – Communities & Local Government Deputy Director (Council Tax)
Councillor David Rogers – LGA Chair of Community Wellbeing Board
Benet Middleton – National Autistic Society Director of Communications and Regional Development
Baroness Thornton – Government Spokesperson for Health
Ruth Sutherland – Alzheimer’s Society Interim Chief Executive
Sue Brown – Sense Head of Campaigns and Public Policy
Cara Brown – Resolution Foundation External Affairs Manager
Sarah Wellard – Grandparents Plus Policy and Research Manager
John Kell – MND Association Acting Head of Policy
Graham Barker – The Stroke Association Public Affairs and Policy Manager
Lesley Rimmer – UKHCA Chief Executive
Stephen Burke – Counsel and Care Chief Executive
Nick Starling – ABI Director of General Insurance & Health
Joe Farrington-Douglas – NHS Confederation Senior Policy Manager
Melanie Henwood – MS Society Chair of Advisory Group for Independent Living
Anne Roberts – Crossroads Care Chief Executive
Julie Jones – SCIE Chief Executive
Judy Downey – Relatives and Residents Association Chair / Acting Chief Executive
Jenny Owen – ADASS President
Mark Goldring – Mencap Chief Executive
Norman Lamb – MP Liberal Democrats
Richard Humphries – The Kings Fund Senior Fellow, Social Care
Steve Winyard – RNIB Head of Policy and Campaigns
Guy Parckar – Leonard Cheshire Disability Public Policy Manager
Laura Courtney – Every Disabled Child Matters Campaign Director
Val Buxton – Parkinson’s Disease Society Director of Policy, Campaigns & Information
Peter Challis – UNISON National Officer, Local Government
Geraldine Cunningham – Royal College of Nursing Head of Learning and Development, RCN Institute
Winston McKenzie – UK Independence Party
Dan Beety – Sue Ryder Care Head of External Communications
Andy Burnham – Secretary of State, Dept of Health
Phil Hope – Minister for Care Services, Dept of Health
David Behan – Department of Health
Shaun Gallagher – Department of Health
Sally Warren – Department of Health
Catherine Davies – Department of Health
Richard Simper – Department of Health
Elspeth Henderson – Department of Health (event organiser)
Alex Szyjanowicz – Department of Health (event organiser)
Edward Gilbert – Department of Health (event organiser)
Dame Denise Platt – MC / Lead Facilitator
Brian Parry – COI (facilitator)
Tom Wormald – COI (facilitator)
Anna Brocklehurst – COI (facilitator)
Nick Wilson – COI (facilitator)
Jo Hudek – COI (facilitator)
Mark Pragnall – COI (facilitator)
Andrew Forth – PS to Norman Lamb MP
NB – Michelle Mitchell had to leave the conference early and did not see the final statement.