Day: March 15, 2025

LSWG SUBMISSION TO HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE COMMITTEE INQUIRY INTO SOCIAL CARE SERVICES 2025

There was very little time given for preparation of submissions but a small group of members led by Prof Alisoun Milne RSW put together this short submission with the offer to expand and provide evidence on the points made. They were concentrating (as is this particular Select Committee Inquiry) on current state of services rather than on the long term record of adult social care. Labour Social Work Group members have also contributed to fuller submissions made by research, professional and advocacy groups. Readers are recommended to search on line to see other detailed submissions. LSWG will be submitting evidence on the role of social work within adult social services to the Commission on Adult Social Care set up under the Chairmanship of Baroness Louise Casey. Contributions to this work, especially from practising social workers and researchers will be very welcome

Written evidence submitted by Labour Social Work Group (ASC0012)
HEALTH AND CARE SELECT COMMITTEE INQUIRY INTO COSTS OF INACTION OF REFORM OF SOCIA CARE

The Labour Social Work Group a member-led group that seeks to contribute to improved wellbeing
and life chances of some of the most vulnerable members of society. Our members provide
community and personal social work services, research and training across age and needs groups,
and work collaboratively with people who use services, their carers and advocacy groups.

We wish to address the following two questions posed by the Committee:
‘What is the cost of inaction to individuals and how might people’s lives change with action
on adult social care reform?


Where in the system is the cost of inaction on adult social care reform being borne the
most? ‘


We believe that the way councils deploy their resources to both meet and prevent people’s needs
for care and support requires fundamental reform. The current system gives priority to complex
cases with high levels of need to the detriment of meeting many people’s needs, and the needs of
their family carers, in a preventive way.


The NHS uses a different model to deploy resources that gives more weight to prevention. We think
that this and other models should be explored for adult social care. Inaction on reform is being
borne by the NHS (e.g. unnecessary admissions to hospital, earlier than needed admission to a care
home), family carers (who are at much greater risk of breaking down, being harmed by caring) and
by adults with care needs who find themselves ‘ineligible’ for access to publicly funded services,
including social work.


It has long been known that best use of public money happens when resources are allocated to meet
the unique needs of individuals as they aspire to make their lives the best they can be – support that
is personalised. Social work skills are required to support people to identify the best use of resources
to make this a reality.


The Care Act remains the right legislation. Properly applied, it can have a significant transformative
impact on the productivity and effectiveness of the sector and the lives and wellbeing of adults with
care and support needs and their families.
We can provide both the evidence to support the above statements and the ways in which the
Statutory Guidance needs to change if the Committee would like to pursue this as a way forward.
December 2024

2024 Election- Manifesto for a Labour Social Work and Social Care

UNLEASHING THE POWER OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE CAMPAIGN TO TRANSFORM SOCIAL CARE

Social work values are Labour Party values. We call upon the Labour Party to unleash the power of social workers to play a vital part in transforming social care and the support and protection for children, older people and working age adults with disabilities. This will play an important part in reducing the pressures on the NHS and mainstream education services.

TO RELEASE THE POTENTIAL OF SOCIAL WORKERS THE NEW LABOUR GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE STEPS TO–

PREVENT the need for people to be cared for away from home

In the context of a commitment to reduce poverty and inequality and its devastating impact on children, families and adults, social workers can work with local authorities, community groups and voluntary organisations to provide the inclusive services that people of all ages need: to be safe at home, to thrive, and to become active contributors to their communities and the economy. This would reduce to a minimum the number of people for whom care away home is the only viable option.

PROTECT children and adults of all ages from abuse and neglect

Social workers have the personal qualities and interpersonal skills to form trusting relationships with children and adults who have complex needs and/or struggle to engage because of negative experiences of people in authority. Social workers have sound legal knowledge and expertise in assessing risk and taking prompt action to protect people who are being abused or neglected. This includes making expert and sensitive judgements about the safety and wellbeing of people experiencing crises in their mental health or when their capacity to make decisions is impaired.

PROMOTE human rights and access to timely care and support

Social workers are effective advocates for people who are being treated unfairly or discriminated against; in supporting people to get the care and support to which they are entitled; and promoting social justice.

PROVIDE leadership

Social workers provide focused, supportive and inspiring leadership to colleagues at all levels from frontline casework to chief officers.

REVERSE the trend of privatisation

The Labour government should end the policy of outsourcing care services to profit-driven private sector providers. When children young people and adults cannot remain at home they should receive high quality not-for-profit local care to meet their needs. Government should fund and empower local authorities, community groups and voluntary sector organisations to use their local knowledge to develop services that reflect the needs of local people.

RECRUIT more social workers to replace those lost through stress and unsutainable working conditions

The Labour government should recruit potential social workers to initial qualifying courses in research-active University Schools of Social Work that prepare them to work with people who are at all stages of the life course, rather than restricting them to specific age groups or specialist areas of practice. Social workers need to appreciate the complexity of human connections. People live in multi-generationalfamilies and communities and their problems and needs intersect and are inseparably connected. Expand the supply of these courses.

RETAIN skilled, experienced social workers

The Labour government should keep social workers in public services by providing salaries, terms and conditions that reflect their level of skill, expertise, knowledge and the demands of the role.

Provide working conditions that reduce bureaucracy, promote professional development and wellbeing, including regular professional supervision, and dedicated time for professional development, reflective discussion and peer support.