19
February 2025
Submission to Inquiry into Adult Social Care Reform: The Cost of Inaction
The Department of Health and Social Care recently launched an Inquiry into Adult Social Care Reform: The Cost of Inaction.
This inquiry investigates the cost of inaction to individuals, NHS local authorities and the wider economy, focusing on both personal and financial costs, as well as missed potential benefits.
Responding to the call for evidence we argued that social care reform will only be possible if we have a properly resourced workforce, with meaningful support for practitioners.
Without reform, people will continue to face long waits and inappropriate care, the workforce will continue to be overstretched and under-resourced, and the economy will bear the financial burden of rising emergency care costs.
We emphasise that when supported to perform at their best, mental health social workers provide long-lasting, sustainable improvements for the people they support, helping them to live more independent lives.
To truly transform social care, we need a well-supported workforce that can provide consistent, high-quality care and drive lasting change.