Care England has called for a change in the funds and commissioning process for adult social care, to deal with a post-pandemic environment, Home Care UK reports. The representative body described the existing models as ‘incapable’ of responding to a new reality, and long-standing issues needed to be resolved.
In its recent submission to the Public Accounts Committee’s inquiry into the operation of the adult social care system, Care England said a commissioning system must be created that is responsive to the needs of the sector. This includes continuing healthcare and local authority funded rates.
Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated the importance of creating markets that support rather than undermine the adult social care sector’s development.”
The inquiry by the Public Accounts Committee will examine how adult social care is currently provided and structured, and the impact of Covid-19 on the market and the sector’s financial sustainability.
Further points of issue include the Department for Health and Social Care’s effectiveness in overseeing the market and holding providers to account, and its ability to deal with future demand, costs and alternative delivery models.
Green continues: “We need a new vision for adult social care, one that focuses on moving from a crisis orientated system to one that is asset-based and maintains choice, autonomy and control for people as much as possible. It must also deliver services that are connected to the heart of local communities.”
A new white paper has also been released, which proposes changes to the government oversight and delivery of adult social care. It suggests that the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care should have improved powers to make payments directly to adult social care providers, where that is necessary.
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23 April,2021
