The Care & Support Alliance (CSA) applauds Baroness Casey’s frank assessment of the state of the social care system and her focus on governance, accountability and the need for a clear national purpose for care and support.

For too long the system has been expected to deliver for older people, disabled people and unpaid carers without the clarity, leadership or resources needed to make it work. Baroness Casey is right to highlight that reform cannot simply mean tinkering around the edges.

It is encouraging to see a focus not just on money, but on how the system is organised, who is responsible for making it work, and what people should be able to expect from care and support. Real reform will require both political backing and long-term sustainable funding.

With more people living longer and more people living with disability and long-term conditions, pressures on care and support will only grow. That’s why Baroness Casey’s call for a national conversation about the future of social care is so important. The CSA will do everything we can to support this.

Crucially, lasting reform will only succeed if it is built on strong cross-party support. Social care has suffered for decades from short-term political cycles and reforms that never make it past the next election. It is vital that politicians from all sides back this process – or they will be failing millions of their constituents.

We welcome the government accepting Baroness Casey’s recommendations for immediate action ahead of her phase one report later this year and urge ministers to move quickly.

Older people, disabled people and unpaid carers cannot afford further delay.