News Story

Campaign win! Working age adults to be included in social care Green Paper

September 20, 2018

Care Minister Caroline Dinenage MP has confirmed that the social care Green Paper will look at the needs of working age disabled adults, rather than addressing these in a parallel process.

The Care and Support Alliance has been campaigning for this and so we are delighted with this news. Previously, the Government’s position was that the Green Paper would have a focus on older people.

The Minister was speaking at a CSA breakfast event with CEOs from our member organisations. In her speech, the Minister agreed that while the Green Paper would need to come up with proposals for the long term sustainability of the care system, there were significant pressures now.

On the long term funding solution, she talked about the need for some ‘risk pooling’, but stressed that there would be a full consultation on any proposals.

The Minister also set out key areas of focus for the Green Paper. These are:

–           Quality and safety

–           Whole person integrated care

–           Providing people with more control

–           Creating a valued workforce

–           Providing better practical support for families

–           Creating a sustainable funding model

–           Greater sustainability for all, including people who are born with a disability, people who develop a disability in adulthood and older people

The Green Paper is expected to published this year. The CSA has developed ‘7 tests’ for the Green Paper and we’ll be looking to make sure that it meets our tests.

The CSA will also continue to make the case to Government ahead of the budget, that immediate funding to the social care system is urgently needed.

         Caroline Dinenage speaking at the CSA breakfast