National Care Forum members meet DHSC for adult social care discussions

The National Care Forum (NCF) recently convened a round-table discussion between a cross-section of its not-for-profit members and senior officials from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), including director general Sally Warren.

The round table highlighted the role of not-for-profit care and support in areas such as the shaping of a National Care Service and associated standards, neighbourhood health services, pay, terms and conditions of the care workforce, and the importance of housing in the shaping of current and future health and care policy.

While current issues such as commissioning and funding challenges, and the lack of cohesion between the housing, health and care systems featured prominently in the conversations, the future needs of people and their communities were at the heart of the dialogue.

The day-to-day reality of delivering care framed a positive focus on solutions, exploring how things could be done differently

Vic Rayner OBE, chief executive of the NCF, said: “Members across the NCF helped us shape a day for senior DHSC officials that enabled both the operational and strategic realities of care to be on the agenda. We wanted to start off with the voices of the workforce and those drawing on care and support, to ensure these were front and centre of the discussions. Dialogue like this is critical in helping officials fully understand the essential role that social care plays in our communities and the difference it makes to people’s lives.

“We were then able to bring together in one room a truly diverse mix of not-for-profit providers, who between them represent every area of adult social care, for some focused discussion. The day-to-day reality of delivering care framed a positive focus on solutions, exploring how things could be done differently, particularly in relation to the vital role of housing with care, as well as different models of delivery including Local Authority Trading Companies (LATCos), the role of technology, and how critical it is for there to be a clear strategic direction from the centre.”

Combining this kind of collaborative thinking with the ambitions of the Casey Commission we can start to envisage a dynamic care and support system that is fairer, more sustainable, easier to access, and ready for the challenges and opportunities the future holds 

Rayner concluded: “Combining this kind of collaborative thinking with the ambitions of the Casey Commission we can start to envisage a dynamic care and support system that is fairer, more sustainable, easier to access, and ready for the challenges and opportunities the future holds.”

The round table was held at a specialist residential home for people with acquired brain injuries operated by NCF member Brainkind in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.