Category: national care service

Making a national care service – from roadmap to reality

Images: Marcus Rose

Industry leaders, care workers, service users and politicians came together yesterday to examine what it will take to make a national care service a reality in England.

The Fabian Society’s National Care Service Summit, hosted at UNISON Centre, gave nearly 80 care sector stakeholders the opportunity to discuss and debate the questions of what a national care service should look like and how to get there?

The event took the Fabian’s report, Support Guaranteed: A Roadmap to a National Care Service, which UNISON commissioned in 2022, as context and asked attendees to apply their experience and expertise to the roadmap, to listen to the range of voices at the event and help build a consensus in the sector.

Opening the event, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea welcomed attendees to UNISON centre saying: “It’s a testament to the strength of feeling about the need for a national care service that it’s pulled in such a diverse and prestigious group of people.

Christina McAnea speaks from the podium at the Fabian Society national care service summit

Christina McAnea welcomes attendees to UNISON centre

“UNISON is delighted that the report we commissioned from the Fabians, Support Guaranteed, has become such a focus for the care sector, and a reference point for how a future government might bring about a national care service.

“[The report] has meat on the bones, detail, timescales and milestones and it reflects the wide consensus in the sector that a new workforce settlement has to be a priority.”

Referencing the wide range of stakeholders in the room she said: “The hope for a national care service continues to gain momentum. Not just in the Fabians’ report, but also in the pledge campaign that UNISON launched last week, and in the Labour Party’s national policy forum process.

“The Labour Party has stuck to its pledge of a national care service, and I look forward to hearing from Wes Streeting [shadow secretary of state for health and social care] and Andrew Gwynne [shadow social care minister] later in the summit.”

She continued: “It’s time to end the sticking plaster approach we’ve seen so far, where ministers make announcements that try to fix a tiny element of the sector. It’s time for us to be ambitious about what we want from a care service.

“A national care service, to boost the standing of the sector, to give people the care and support that they and their families need, and to give care workers the reward and respect they deserve.

“And when the day comes, when a national care service is made a reality, we can meet again, and say: ‘we did that, we made that happen’.”

Andrew Harrop, general secretary of the Fabian Society, then set the scene for attendees, saying: “Today, in this summit, we want to bring all of you together to debate where we are. To find out where there is consensus and where there is friction.

Andrew Harrop, general secretary of the Fabian Society, speaks from the podium at the Fabian Society national care service summit

Andrew Harrop sets the scene

“To think about all the many proposals that have been suggested, not just Support Guaranteed, but all the good work that has been done in social care over the past few years.

“We want to pivot the conversation from ‘will there be a national care service?’ and say, ‘there will be a national care service, but what should it look like?’” He continued by noting that this involves stress testing current Labour Party commitments and looking at what other essential reforms are required.

Attendees then heard short speeches from several key stakeholders including Sean Davis, the chair of Local Government Association, Caroline Abrahams, the charity director of Age UK, and UNISON support worker Sam Thornton.

Speaking of her personal experiences over a 33-year career in the sector, Ms Thornton said: “Things have to change, because we are failing the most vulnerable people in society”.

She highlighted the importance of professionalisation in the industry. “Every year we do huge amounts of training, and with a national care service, hopefully this training will be recognised and we will be banded properly like our NHS colleagues.”

Sam Thornton, a UNISON member and support worker, speaks into a microphone at the Fabian Society national care service summit

Sam Thornton gives attendees a workforce perspective

She said this meant proper routes for progression, appropriately rewarding workers based on their experience and skill levels and, fundamentally, setting out a fair pay agreement for the entire sector.

In the afternoon, Wes Streeting and Andrew Gwynne both spoke of Labour’s commitment to a national care service.

Mr Streeting said: “If we’re [Labour] serious about meeting our ambitions on social care or the NHS or any of the other great missions that will define the next Labour government it’s going to take a decade of renewal … not overnight fixes.”

He spoke of the need for a “ground-breaking fair pay agreement” and the need “to professionalise the social care workforce”.

Wes Streeting MP, shadow secretary of state for health and social care, speaks from the podium at the Fabian Society national care service summit

Wes Streeting speaks to attendees about Labour’s policy commitments

Meanwhile, Mr Gwynne told attendees: “We have an opportunity to transform people’s lives”.

He continued: “I see the NCS as being ‘the what’. ‘The how’ – how it’s delivered – has to be down to the local system, and we have to allow for innovation and we have to involve all different parts of the social care sector, including the users.

Speaking on the chronic low pay of workers in the care sector, he said: “We need to value the workforce more than we do at present.” He added that to do this, Labour needs to fix the perception of the profession as “low-skill, low-wage and bottom-rung” and that creating a career pathway in care is going to be key to a national service.

The event then split into roundtable discussions with debate on several topics: workforce; national and local; rights and voice; prevention and access; providers and models of support.

Speaking just before the close, Ms McAnea thanked attendees and said: “We may have different views, but we all want the same thing – a fairer society.

“We are absolutely on the right side of history here, and the history books will say that in the future and that debate about how we create a fairer society starts here with a working national care service.”

Sam Thornton, UNISON member and support worker, speaks in a roundtable of care sector stakeholders including Wes Streeting MP, shadow secretary of state for health and social care

Sam Thornton speaks to stakeholders, including Wes Streeting, in the roundtables

The article Making a national care service – from roadmap to reality first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON opinion: A better way is possible for social care

By UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea

Social care is broken. Despite it being an essential service that should be the cornerstone of a compassionate society, the Westminster government has washed its hands of it.

It has been allowed to deteriorate into a fragmented, underfunded and privatised system that’s unfit to meet the needs of social care users. The inadequate pay and conditions for the workers propping up the system, fail to recognise their value and contributions.

UNISON knows that care workers are the beating heart of social care, and is proud to represent so many working in care homes and communities.

Care workers should be able to look after everyone’s loved ones with the best care and kindness. But without the cash or sufficient staff, the sector is struggling to deliver and it’s putting unbearable pressure on the NHS and families.

But a better way is possible. A national care service is the radical change needed to fix social care. A service that everyone can be proud of.

Care users would be able to access the right care when they need it, their families would be reassured and able to continue working, and care workers would be truly valued, recognised and rewarded as the skilled professionals they are.

It’s in everyone’s best interest that England has a national care service. Labour has already pledged to create a national care service and a fair pay agreement in the sector.

I met with Wes Streeting MP, the shadow secretary of state for health and social care, who is the first to sign up to UNISON’s national care campaign pledge and is committed to delivering a service with the same respect as the NHS.

As we head towards a general election, UNISON is asking all parliamentary candidates in English seats, to join our campaign and publicly pledge their support.

The article UNISON opinion: A better way is possible for social care first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON opinion: A better way is possible for social care

By UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea

Social care is broken. Despite it being an essential service that should be the cornerstone of a compassionate society, the Westminster government has washed its hands of it.

It has been allowed to deteriorate into a fragmented, underfunded and privatised system that’s unfit to meet the needs of social care users. The inadequate pay and conditions for the workers propping up the system, fail to recognise their value and contributions.

UNISON knows that care workers are the beating heart of social care, and is proud to represent so many working in care homes and communities.

Care workers should be able to look after everyone’s loved ones with the best care and kindness. But without the cash or sufficient staff, the sector is struggling to deliver and it’s putting unbearable pressure on the NHS and families.

But a better way is possible. A national care service is the radical change needed to fix social care. A service that everyone can be proud of.

Care users would be able to access the right care when they need it, their families would be reassured and able to continue working, and care workers would be truly valued, recognised and rewarded as the skilled professionals they are.

It’s in everyone’s best interest that England has a national care service. Labour has already pledged to create a national care service and a fair pay agreement in the sector.

I met with Wes Streeting MP, the shadow secretary of state for health and social care, who is the first to sign up to UNISON’s national care campaign pledge and is committed to delivering a service with the same respect as the NHS.

As we head towards a general election, UNISON is asking all parliamentary candidates in English seats, to join our campaign and publicly pledge their support.

The article UNISON opinion: A better way is possible for social care first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Prospective MPs urged to back new national care service

General election candidates from all parties are being asked to support the creation of a new national care service in England.

UNISON says too many people across the country cannot access the social care they desperately need because the current system is broken.

The union wants to see a new service based on high quality care and a fairly rewarded workforce. Although these changes wouldn’t happen overnight, the union believes the reforms would put an end to 15-minute home care visits, long waits for care packages, and low wages for staff.

A national care service would also mean the quality of care is of the same high standard, no matter where in the country it was being provided, says UNISON.

Wages would also be boosted with a new fair pay agreement, lifting care jobs off minimum wage rates and standardising salaries across England.

This would allow care companies to start filling the huge 152,000 vacancies hole in the sector’s workforce, says UNISON.

A national care service would also assist families trying to find out more about the level of care provision on offer locally. The union says that trying to navigate the current system to secure any kind of support can be confusing, complicated, and extremely stressful.

Labour has already pledged to create a national care service and a new fair pay agreement for care workers if the party forms the next government.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting was the first politician to show his support by signing UNISON’s pledge card for the service.

Now the union is calling on every candidate who has been selected to stand in English parliamentary seats at the next general election to sign up too.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Social care is broken. The current fragmented and privatised system is unfit to meet the needs of everyone who needs support. But a better way is possible.

“Care workers are the beating heart of a system that should be able to look after everyone’s loved ones with compassion and kindness. But without the cash or sufficient staff, the sector is struggling to deliver, putting unbearable pressure on the NHS and families.

“If the country is to have a care service of which it can be truly proud, care workers must be valued, recognised and rewarded as the skilled professionals they are.

“That requires radical change. Too many families are suffering because they can’t access the support they need and because care isn’t seen as the priority it should be by the current government.

“It’s in everyone’s best interest, no matter how old they are, that England has a national care service. That’s why it’s so important for all the country’s parliamentary candidates to publicly pledge their support.”

Notes to editors: 
– Parliamentary candidates who sign up to the pledge card commit to backing a national care service that would improve the quality of care for all those who need it; support independent living and take a ‘home first’ approach; promote public sector and non-profit delivery of care services; introduce national partnership working by bringing together employers, unions and government; and implement a fair pay agreement in adult social care.
– Candidates are being encouraged to share photos with the pledge card and use the hashtag #LetsMakeCareWork on social media channels.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Dan Ashley M: 07908 672893 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

 

The article Prospective MPs urged to back new national care service first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Prospective MPs urged to back new national care service

General election candidates from all parties are being asked to support the creation of a new national care service in England.

UNISON says too many people across the country cannot access the social care they desperately need because the current system is broken.

The union wants to see a new service based on high quality care and a fairly rewarded workforce. Although these changes wouldn’t happen overnight, the union believes the reforms would put an end to 15-minute home care visits, long waits for care packages, and low wages for staff.

A national care service would also mean the quality of care is of the same high standard, no matter where in the country it was being provided, says UNISON.

Wages would also be boosted with a new fair pay agreement, lifting care jobs off minimum wage rates and standardising salaries across England.

This would allow care companies to start filling the huge 152,000 vacancies hole in the sector’s workforce, says UNISON.

A national care service would also assist families trying to find out more about the level of care provision on offer locally. The union says that trying to navigate the current system to secure any kind of support can be confusing, complicated, and extremely stressful.

Labour has already pledged to create a national care service and a new fair pay agreement for care workers if the party forms the next government.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting was the first politician to show his support by signing UNISON’s pledge card for the service.

Now the union is calling on every candidate who has been selected to stand in English parliamentary seats at the next general election to sign up too.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Social care is broken. The current fragmented and privatised system is unfit to meet the needs of everyone who needs support. But a better way is possible.

“Care workers are the beating heart of a system that should be able to look after everyone’s loved ones with compassion and kindness. But without the cash or sufficient staff, the sector is struggling to deliver, putting unbearable pressure on the NHS and families.

“If the country is to have a care service of which it can be truly proud, care workers must be valued, recognised and rewarded as the skilled professionals they are.

“That requires radical change. Too many families are suffering because they can’t access the support they need and because care isn’t seen as the priority it should be by the current government.

“It’s in everyone’s best interest, no matter how old they are, that England has a national care service. That’s why it’s so important for all the country’s parliamentary candidates to publicly pledge their support.”

Notes to editors: 
– Parliamentary candidates who sign up to the pledge card commit to backing a national care service that would improve the quality of care for all those who need it; support independent living and take a ‘home first’ approach; promote public sector and non-profit delivery of care services; introduce national partnership working by bringing together employers, unions and government; and implement a fair pay agreement in adult social care.
– Candidates are being encouraged to share photos with the pledge card and use the hashtag #LetsMakeCareWork on social media channels.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Dan Ashley M: 07908 672893 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

 

The article Prospective MPs urged to back new national care service first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Migrant family ban makes no sense without proper reform of social care, says UNISON

Commenting on the announcement from care minister Helen Whately that migrant care staff coming to the UK will be banned from bringing family with them after mid-March, UNISON head of social Gavin Edwards said:

“Care companies couldn’t function without migrant care workers. Firms have to recruit from overseas because the government’s done nothing to solve the care staffing crisis.

“Ministers’ reckless changes to immigration policy spell disaster for social care. Until pay rates rise substantially, there’ll never be enough UK-based recruits to plug the huge hole in the care workforce. 

“New career paths and qualifications might sound impressive, but they won’t change a thing unless the minimum wage stops being the norm in care.

“The ban on families means overseas care staff will be much less likely to come to work in the UK. The few that do will be more isolated and at even greater risk of exploitation.

“But migrant workers are still very much needed. Ministers know this, yet don’t seem to care.

“A national care service, with a new fair pay agreement, and a real commitment to turn the sector around is what’s needed to give everyone in need of care the best support possible.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Dan Ashley M: 07908 672893 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk 

The article Migrant family ban makes no sense without proper reform of social care, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Migrant family ban makes no sense without proper reform of social care, says UNISON

Commenting on the announcement from care minister Helen Whately that migrant care staff coming to the UK will be banned from bringing family with them after mid-March, UNISON head of social Gavin Edwards said:

“Care companies couldn’t function without migrant care workers. Firms have to recruit from overseas because the government’s done nothing to solve the care staffing crisis.

“Ministers’ reckless changes to immigration policy spell disaster for social care. Until pay rates rise substantially, there’ll never be enough UK-based recruits to plug the huge hole in the care workforce. 

“New career paths and qualifications might sound impressive, but they won’t change a thing unless the minimum wage stops being the norm in care.

“The ban on families means overseas care staff will be much less likely to come to work in the UK. The few that do will be more isolated and at even greater risk of exploitation.

“But migrant workers are still very much needed. Ministers know this, yet don’t seem to care.

“A national care service, with a new fair pay agreement, and a real commitment to turn the sector around is what’s needed to give everyone in need of care the best support possible.”

Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
Dan Ashley M: 07908 672893 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk 

The article Migrant family ban makes no sense without proper reform of social care, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: The final hammer blow to our crumbling social care system

The government has put the final hammer blow to our crumbling social care system. The home secretary’s announcement of new immigration plans will sacrifice migrant care workers and risk a total collapse of the UK’s care system, just to appease extremist Tory backbenchers.

The health and care visa was introduced in 2020 to plug workforce gaps, but because headlines of soaring immigration numbers are compounding Rishi Sunak’s polling problems, he’s playing roulette with our essential services.

Had he, or his ministers, spoken to any employer in the care sector, they would know that any plans to curb the migrant care workforce will cause utter disaster. Not allowing migrant care workers to bring any dependants with them to the UK, will do exactly that. Potential recruits will be put off coming to the UK, and the ones already here may have to send dependants home when their visas come up for renewal.

Staff vacancies will soar from the current number of 152,000, and I don’t see a queue of British workers waiting to take up those posts. We will see care homes closing and care companies going bust.

UNISON had just released findings of appalling abuse of the migrant workers propping up social care, in its report Expendable Labour. These new plans will leave migrant care workers vulnerable to more abuse, as they can only come to the UK isolated, with no close family with them.

Finally, everyone in the UK can see what little regard this government has for the people who rely on social care, for care workers and their employers. But why would government ministers be so careless with people’s lives and so reckless with one of the biggest industries in the UK?

Maybe it’s because its workforce is predominantly low-paid women, doing work they view as low value and low intelligence. This was made clear yesterday by the home secretary in his announcement in the House of Commons.

While migrant care workers won’t be allowed to bring family with them to the UK, he said that international students coming to the UK on postgraduate research programmes could bring dependants, because, as he said, “we always want to attract the global brightest and best”.

I find the stirring of culture wars and spouting of anti-immigrant rhetoric sickening. I’ve clashed with characters from the far right on TV recently and when they talk about ‘British culture’, I’m left confused. Because I always thought we were a country that strived to be caring and welcoming. But what’s more callous than putting our older and vulnerable citizens at risk and being hostile to the people who come here to care for them.

The article Blog: The final hammer blow to our crumbling social care system first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: The final hammer blow to our crumbling social care system

The government has put the final hammer blow to our crumbling social care system. The home secretary’s announcement of new immigration plans will sacrifice migrant care workers and risk a total collapse of the UK’s care system, just to appease extremist Tory backbenchers.

The health and care visa was introduced in 2020 to plug workforce gaps, but because headlines of soaring immigration numbers are compounding Rishi Sunak’s polling problems, he’s playing roulette with our essential services.

Had he, or his ministers, spoken to any employer in the care sector, they would know that any plans to curb the migrant care workforce will cause utter disaster. Not allowing migrant care workers to bring any dependants with them to the UK, will do exactly that. Potential recruits will be put off coming to the UK, and the ones already here may have to send dependants home when their visas come up for renewal.

Staff vacancies will soar from the current number of 152,000, and I don’t see a queue of British workers waiting to take up those posts. We will see care homes closing and care companies going bust.

UNISON had just released findings of appalling abuse of the migrant workers propping up social care, in its report Expendable Labour. These new plans will leave migrant care workers vulnerable to more abuse, as they can only come to the UK isolated, with no close family with them.

Finally, everyone in the UK can see what little regard this government has for the people who rely on social care, for care workers and their employers. But why would government ministers be so careless with people’s lives and so reckless with one of the biggest industries in the UK?

Maybe it’s because its workforce is predominantly low-paid women, doing work they view as low value and low intelligence. This was made clear yesterday by the home secretary in his announcement in the House of Commons.

While migrant care workers won’t be allowed to bring family with them to the UK, he said that international students coming to the UK on postgraduate research programmes could bring dependants, because, as he said, “we always want to attract the global brightest and best”.

I find the stirring of culture wars and spouting of anti-immigrant rhetoric sickening. I’ve clashed with characters from the far right on TV recently and when they talk about ‘British culture’, I’m left confused. Because I always thought we were a country that strived to be caring and welcoming. But what’s more callous than putting our older and vulnerable citizens at risk and being hostile to the people who come here to care for them.

The article Blog: The final hammer blow to our crumbling social care system first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: The shocking treatment of migrant workers harms us all

UNISON has gathered evidence of appalling exploitation of migrant workers by unscrupulous care bosses.

Care is one of the biggest industries in the UK, but also one of the most precarious. It’s broken, on the brink of collapse and only being propped up by the work of migrants.

Workers from abroad have sold everything they own to come here and care for people. But instead of receiving decent pay and conditions, and being treated with dignity and respect, the UK government is letting employers get away with terrible practices that should be consigned to history.

Our report, Expendable Labour details shocking treatment of migrant care workers in the UK care system.

We found the ultimate abuse of workers. Brought over here on false promises of a better life and charged dodgy fees that cost them their homes and savings. Some find they’re either overworked on 80 hours a week, or given too few hours to survive off. Given inadequate training, living in poor conditions and threatened with deportation if they speak out.

To top it off, ministers are demonising migrant workers by blaming them for all the country’s woes. They’re complicit in allowing the abuse to continue and in a raging culture war that’s now targeting low paid migrant workers.

Rather than focusing on fixing social care and ensuring decent pay and care for those who need it, the likes of Robert Jenrick, Minister for Immigration, are happy to see the care system completely collapse. His suggestions of capping visas for care workers and his desire to prevent them from bringing children or other dependent family members with them, will only make the problems in care worse.

Any increase on the current 152,000 care staff vacancies spells deep trouble for the whole sector.

So we’re calling on the government to take urgent action to stop that from happening.

Immigration reform and the creation of a national care service are the answer.

Visa extensions would allow care workers more time to seek employment with a new sponsor, and a national care service would ensure decent pay, terms and conditions to prevent abuse and exploitation.

Fixing social care ultimately means guaranteed support for those who need it. But it would also help to grow our economy. And what better way to do it, than through a national care service that everyone can be proud of.

The article Blog: The shocking treatment of migrant workers harms us all first appeared on the UNISON National site.