The transformation of social care hangs in the electoral balance - what do the manifestos tell us?

Councils are at a crucial point in arguably the most significant transformation across the public sector. We have worked with 140 councils on behalf of Department of Health, with other Government departments and with more than 40 councils and PCTs to achieve this shift in changing the relationship between the individual, the state and the wider world. Empowering people to take control of their lives, placing a greater focus on better use of people’s community and personal networks and the third sector, and on early intervention and prevention.  Much of this started through Putting People First,but it is also stretching far beyond this through Total Place and personalisation.

Often seen as threatening this, the financial pressure is already at unprecedented levels, and will certainly increase. This is also a time where, for good or bad, social care has higher national political focus than ever before.

For directors of adult social services, there has never been a more important time to do all you can to prepare for the future. The policy and direction, or lack of it, of the next government could have a significant impact on the fundamental shape and, indeed, very existence of, social care.

The good news is that all three parties are showing a commitment to the ethos of Putting People First in Adult Social Care and to the translation of the concepts into the delivery of wider public services, though the Labour and Conservative manifestos are more specific, including widening of the use of personal budgets for health and social care.  The manifestos, have clearly taken on board the language and ideas of Total Place, through such ideas as the Conservatives ‘general power of competence’ for local government.

However, the devil will be in the detail. The big question is, what will this really mean on the ground? The manifestos give us some very helpful hints of what to expect.

Here is a link to a two-page summary of what the three manifestos say about social care and other issues impacting the sector such as  the size of the public sector, employment and the third sector.

To read more detail of what the manifestos say about these topics, please click on the pdf link below for a fuller comparison.

iMPOWER is committed to helping you deliver personalised, sustainable and integrated support by transforming social care, health and beyond. Please contact our Director for Adults wellbeing, Jeremy Cooper on 020 7017 8030 or at jcooper@impower.co.uk to discuss any aspect of this, including what the election could mean.