As Britain's political elite descend on conference halls across the country, cross party political voices, policy makers and  social care leaders have thrown down the gauntlet to any with a message that will define the next election: stop the political games and face the truth about social care or watch Britain "sleepwalk into both a humanitarian and an economic disaster."

This was the focus of a special episode of the acclaimed Voices of Care podcast hosted by Suhail Mirza with Newcross Healthcare

With just four days until the Conservative Conference, the Social Care Foundation - chaired by former Deputy Prime Minister Damian Green and founded by industry legend Dr Robert Kilgour - has exposed decades of political failure and offered recommendations that can save the sector now. The message to politicians, providers and policy makers is bold and brave: "Social care can't wait till 2028. It's in intensive care" - and whichever party grasps this nettle first will own the political narrative on one of Britain's biggest policy crises. The question hanging over every conference speech, every policy platform, and every leadership hustings is simple: will you be the party that finally fixes social care, or the one that watched it collapse on your watch?

The UK wide think tank founded by Dr Robert Kilgour and chaired by former Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Damian Green, sets out 35 hard hitting recommendations to transform England’s social care system and create a National Care Service with funding being taken away from Local Authority control and distributed nationally according to need. 

London - The Social Care Foundation Report (Who Cares? Solutions for the Social Care Review) was launched this month in Westminster, amidst a warning from the SCF’s Advisory Council Member, Dr Jane Townson, that the UK is "sleepwalking into both a humanitarian and an economic disaster" without immediate action. 

The think tank was established by Renaissance Care founder (and industry sector legend) Dr Robert Kilgour: "I set up the social care Foundation to do something to move and encourage meaningful reform going forward." 

The Foundation is chaired by former Deputy Prime Minister Damian Green, with Kilgour emphasising that "it's very much a cross-party perspective. That's absolutely key as well." The report was the subject of a special episode of the Voices of Care podcast hosted by Suhail Mirza, featuring leading voices from across the political, policy and provider spectrum. 

With demographic projections showing that 25% of the UK population will be over 65 within 25 years,
Dr Jane Townson, Chief Executive of the Homecare Association and member of the Foundation's advisory council, warned: "we are sleepwalking into both a humanitarian and an economic disaster if we don't grasp this." 

A Constructive Approach to Reform 
Kilgour emphasised that the foundation took a measured approach to its recommendations:
"we wanted it to be positive, constructive, and thought provoking, and radical." 
However, the urgency of reform cannot be understated. Kilgour stressed that "frankly, social care can't wait till 2028. It's in intensive care," referring to the timeline for the Casey Commission's final recommendations. 

Key Recommendations for Transformation 
The report has a number of key recommendations including ending Local Authority funding control and the creation of a National Care Service"
One of the most radical proposals involves fundamentally restructuring how social care is funded and how the funding should be distributed nationally according to need. Kilgour identified "the key one for me is the taking away from local authorities" of funding distribution, describing it as "the best chance we've got of ending this budget fight between the NHS and local authorities." 
Damian Green elaborated: "So what we suggest instead is a national care system so that it's simpler all round. The money is distributed nationally." 

True Integration with the NHS- “it's not rocket science” 
The report calls for genuine integration between health and social care services. Green was critical of current arrangements, stating: "window dressing is a good description of what's happened up to now; we have these integrated care boards, but they're not really integrated." 
This integration is essential, as Kilgour emphasised: "you cannot fix the NHS without first fixing social care... it's not rocket science. It's basic common sense." 

Addressing the Funding Challenge 
While acknowledging the financial constraints facing Government, Green noted that "the overwhelming consensus is, first of all, you need more money." Green added that politicians need to be honest about how social care will be funded which the Report suggests could be either via a Health and Care Levy or a pension style Care Supplement. 
Kilgour added that the Report in addition to asking for more funding also sought to ensure better use of existing budgets: "a lot of what we're proposing is making more efficient, better use of taxpayers money in the overall NHS, social care budget." 
The report stated its funding reforms will bring stability to the sector which would allow more investment. Kilgour added: "I really think that something like the government using the British Business Bank services, to provide long term, low cost finance to care home operators is vital”. He argued that this would allow operators to “to build care homes in the places where they are needed, not just where private funders are predominant." 

Workforce and Technology Innovation 
The report recognises the critical importance of supporting social care staff. Kilgour emphasised that "the amazing staff that look after our vulnerable members of society 24/7, really deserve better support from all of us, the public and government." 
The Foundation calls for strategic workforce planning, with Lucinda Allen from The Health Foundation noting: "this is an important moment for the workforce, too. The Health Foundation has long called for a more strategic approach to workforce planning and social care." 
The report also highlights the transformative potential of technology, with Green observing: "we are at the stage where in other countries they use robots for personal care." 
 
Cross-Party Political Support 
The Foundation’s Report launch was attended by leaders across the political spectrum, reflecting its commitment to building consensus for long-term reform. 
Liberal Democrat MP (and its Mental Health spokesperson) Dr Danny Chambers emphasised the need for sustained commitment: "we've been calling for the cross-party talks on social care, because we need a long-term plan that won't change as governments change." 
Conservative Shadow Health Secretary Stuart Andrew confirmed his party's view that this is an issue that demands a national approach: "we need to think about this seamless movement versus the usual five-year parliamentary cycles." 

Addressing Regulatory Challenges 
The report also tackles the urgent need for improved regulation and commissioning practices. Dr Jane Townson highlighted: "the council's auction off care to the lowest bidder and people have to like it or lump it”.

A “win win” Future for our Ageing Population 
The Report also looked into the future and called for a “massive” increase in later life housing to support Britain’s ageing population to live longer healthier lives in their own homes. 

In the words of Damian Green :
“the  Older People's Housing Task Force, which recommended a much greater provision of housing 
suitable for elderly, often frail people so that they can live in their own homes for longer, which 
they want to do, which is much cheaper for everyone. It's an absolute win win” 

END

The Voices of Care podcast, hosted by Suhail Mirza, continues to provide a platform for sector leaders to address critical issues facing health and social care across the UK.


Contact: Newcross Healthcare – Priya Patel, Marketing Manager
priya.patel@newcrosshealthcare.com

About the Voice of Care Podcast 
The Voices of Care podcast, a Newcross Healthcare production hosted by Suhail Mirza, offers candid conversations with key figures in health and social care. Created to give a platform to those shaping the future of care, the podcast explores the biggest challenges facing the sector while spotlighting inspiring stories of innovation and leadership. 

About Newcross Healthcare 
Newcross Healthcare is one of the UK's leading providers of social and health care services, both within the community and through healthcare staffing. With an extensive network of over 165,000 registered healthcare professionals and nearly three decades of expert experience, Newcross delivers high-quality care solutions that meet the diverse needs of patients and communities. 
For more information, visit www.newcrosshealthcare.com