“The need for social care reform is no less in Scotland than in England”: CCPS response to PM’s announcement on social care

CCPS has welcomed Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s recognition of the urgent need to reform social care and his commitment to working across party lines to build a “new social consensus” on care. 

In a video posted on X ahead of his speech this morning, the Prime Minister said we needed a politics focused on “problem solving, not point scoring”, saying “nowhere is that more urgent than social care”. 

Introducing the Prime Minister ahead of his speech, Louise Casey, who heads up the government’s independent review of social care in England, noted the government’s action to house people experiencing homelessness during Covid, saying: “we can do difficult in this country and we can do it well.” 

The Prime Minister went on to make three announcements on social care in England. Firstly, to bring forward Louise Casey’s review by a year. Second, to focus on the social care workforce, committing to a fair pay agreement for staff. In speaking about his personal experiences with social care, the Prime Minister said he believed social care workers “should be the best paid people in society, not the worst”.  

“We need action from the Scottish Government and parliament to acknowledge the urgency of the situation, as the Prime Minister has today, and take immediate action to build the right-based, sustainable system of social care our country needs.” 

The third announcement was to initiate cross-party talks on social care, saying a different kind of politics was needed to take on this issue.  

CCPS CEO Rachel Cackett said: “The Prime Minister has rightly recognised today that the reform of social care is a task which requires cross-party dialogue. 

“In light of today’s announcement, we urge parties across the Scottish Parliament to work together to build a vibrant and sustainable social care sector here. The need for social care reform is no less in Scotland than in England. 

“Having witnessed the fractious, and ultimately failed, attempt to bring in a national care service in Scotland, it is vital that Scottish parties commit to working collaboratively and constructively in this new parliamentary term to meaningfully reform social care. 

“I welcome the Prime Minister’s recognition that social care needs to be people-centred and preventative, to give individuals the best possible support and ease pressures on the NHS. We also wholeheartedly agree social care staff deserve far better pay and recognition for the committed work they do. 

“Now we need action from the Scottish Government and parliament to acknowledge the urgency of the situation, as the Prime Minister has today, and take immediate action to build the right-based, sustainable system of social care our country needs.”