Casey Commission to set out initial plan for national care service by 2026

The Commission, which will be undertaken in 2 phases, started its work last week (2 May) as part of a series of reforms to improve adult social care.

Outlining the purpose of phase 1 of the Commission, the Department for Health and Social care said it should aim to start a “national conversation” about what adult social care should deliver for citizens, and produce “tangible” recommendations that can be implemented in a phased approach over a decade.

The Department for Health and Social care said: “The commission’s work on medium-term reform will be a data-driven deep-dive into the current system. It will focus specifically on existing funding for local authority adult social care services, together with NHS funding for services at the interface of health and care, and whether they are being best used.

“It will seek to identify what changes can be made to funding flows and accountability mechanisms to improve quality and productivity.”

The second phase of the commission is then intended to make “longer-term” recommendations for the transformation of adult social care, reporting back by 2028.

The terms of reference state that it should “look at the model of care needed to address demographic change, how services must be organised to deliver this and discuss alternative models that could be considered in future to deliver a fair and affordable adult care system”.

When the government announced plans to launch an independent commission in January this year, concerns were raised over the timescales of the process, and the need for it to deliver “bold and actionable” recommendations.

Melanie Williams, President of ADASS, said: “Unfortunately, the timescales announced are too long and mean there won’t be tangible changes until 2028. We worry that continuing to tread water until an independent commission concludes will be at the detriment of people’s health and wellbeing.”

Responding to the launch of the Casey Commission last week, the British Association for Social Workers (BASW) said: “It is critical that any reform recognises the need for sustainable, fair funding. Without urgent investment, meaningful improvements cannot be achieved. While we are encouraged by the Commission's ambition, we are concerned that the proposed timescales are too lengthy, as change is needed now to address the urgent pressures across the sector.

“We believe that the most effective social care is created and delivered through co-production: a true partnership between those who use care and support services and those who design and deliver them. We hope the Baroness Casey Commission will embrace this approach, ensuring that people are not only heard but are actively involved in shaping ideas and solutions for the future. We also want to see a focus on equality.”

Lottie Winson