Adult Social Care Update
A message from Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care It’s been a journey fraught with challenges, some more unexpected than others, but finally, we reach a watershed moment in the history of care and support, as we unveil our long term vision to provide the social care services our families, communities and, indeed, the entire country needs. The coronavirus pandemic has been an important turning point for social care, showcasing the incredible work of everybody involved in delivering in care and support and highlighting the urgent need for reform. Importantly, it has shone a spotlight on the hardship, heroism and dedication of the care workforce.
The ten year vision set out in ‘People at the Heart of Care', our Adult Social Care Reform White Paper’ explains how we will put people front and centre of reformed social care. We want the care system to be fairer for everyone who needs it - and be a rewarding place for everyone working in it or providing unpaid care to a friend, neighbour or loved one. In short we want people to have:
The Government’s plans for system reform, backed by over £1 billion, will improve the lives of those who receive services – as well as their families and unpaid carers. It will do this by embedding personalised care throughout the care and support system, and encouraging a culture of innovation where best practices are adopted across the country.
A record £500 million will be invested in the adult social care workforce, boosting career development opportunities, expanding skill sets and maximising wellbeing support
Meanwhile, at least £300 million will be used to integrate housing into local health and care plans, with a focus on increasing the range of new supported housing options.
New technology and digitisation across social care services will be backed by £150 million to support independent living and improve the quality of care, as well as making the system more efficient.
To raise awareness, £5 million has been released to pilot new ways to help people understand and navigate their way to the care and support available.
No significant reform can be achieved by central government alone, which is why this paper is the culmination of close working with hundreds of organisations, communities and individuals across social care, including those with lived experience. As conversations go, they don’t get much bigger, or as important, than this.
We are committed to ensuring the future health and wellbeing of all our citizens. That’s why we will continue working with a diverse group of stakeholders, including people who draw on services and their carers. This is about investing in our country’s future and making sure we have a social care system that works for everyone.
Transforming Social Care: what it means for you Over 1.5 million people work in social care, caring for and supporting people at the heart of their communities. We want everyone working in care to be recognised and valued for their dedication in enabling the dignity and independence of the people they support.
Our long-term vision for adult social care includes creating rewarding careers with opportunities to develop and progress, where staff have the right skills and training to deliver the highest quality of care, and where their wellbeing is prioritised.
COVID-19 booster and winter vaccination update [Image created by freepik.com] All eligible adults in England aged 18 and over will be offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine by the end of January.
Following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), everyone who is currently eligible - including health and social care workers and those at increased risk due to health conditions - will be able to book their jab from three months after their second dose, meaning an additional 7 million people over 40 are now eligible.
Meanwhile, new winter vaccination resources are available to help you encourage colleagues to book their flu and COVID-19 jabs.
Social work values at heart of reform [Image created by freepik.com] "Social work... values are at [the] core [of social care reform]", says Lyn Romeo, our Chief Social Worker for Adults, in her latest blog, marking this week's launch of the landmark White Paper: 'People at the heart of care'.
Lyn applauds the focus on working alongside people with lived experience, allied to greater inclusion, higher standards of care and the recognition that individuals, families and communities deserve to live the lives they want to lead.
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