In his final speech as prime minister, Boris Johnson claimed to have delivered on his manifesto to reform social care – however, representatives from the care sector feel differently.

Speaking outside No 10 Downing Street for the last time on Tuesday morning, Johnson said his government had succeeded in “delivering Brexit, delivering our manifesto commitments, including by the way, including social care, reforming social care.” Representatives of care homes have however disputed his claim.

Care England

Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England felt that, although Johnson committed to fixing social care in the 2019 manifesto, it is far from fixed.

“Recent reforms fail to grasp the scale or severity of the issues facing the sector and will not bring about the long-term sustainability of the sector,” said Green. “In fact, the sector is currently facing the most precarious circumstances in its history. Vacancies in the sector have increased by 52% in the last twelve months, rising by 55,000 to a total of 165,000, 45% of providers in the South-East are considering exiting the market, with a similar trend expected nationwide, and energy prices have increased by over 600% since August last year, with care providers ignored entirely by the current package of Government support seeking to address the latter.

“The £5.4bn provisioned for the sector over the next three years will only see £1.36bn reach care providers, substantially short of the extra £7bn a year needed according to a recent Health and Social Care Committee report. In short, Boris Johnson did not deliver on his commitment to “fix social care” and it is incumbent on the incoming Government to fulfil that promise as a matter of urgency.”

Care England has issued a letter to the new Prime Minister with a blueprint of how to begin the process of fixing the sector.

CareTech Foundation

CareTech Foundation chief executive Jonathan Freeman added: “Were it not so serious an issue, to claim the social care sector has been fixed would be laughable. We can but hope that the new Prime Minister’s pledges for real investment and support of the sector are delivered as a matter of priority.”

The Close Care Home

The Close care home managing director commented that “reformed makes it sound like its fixed”. 

“Certainly reform has started but in no way has it ended and the sector is not fixed. Bravado, bluff and sound bites don’t help residents, their families, operators and the millions that work in the sector, we need sustained and effective input into the sector that benefits all.”

Care Workers’ Charity

The Care Workers’ Charity executive director Karolina Gerlich added: “Contrary to the statement of Boris Jonson from yesterday, social care was definitely not been fixed in the last two years. Quite the opposite actually, we have more vacancies and unmet need than ever, and more care workers are leaving for other sectors.

“Care workers made huge sacrifices during Covid-19 and now are facing the cost-of-living crisis whilst doing their best to deliver great care. That is a difficult task on an empty stomach or whilst worrying if they can feed their children. The Department of Health and Social Care under our former prime minister rejected our pleas for funding for our charity to support more care workers in need. He did not fix social care and we ask the new prime minister to invest into social care as a matter of priority. “

hft

hft chair of trustees Amanda Bunce commented: “In stark opposition to Boris Johnson’s parting words – his unfounded claim that he had ‘fixed social care’ – the sector remains in an increasingly precarious position. Hft’s Sector Pulse Check research found that 43% of providers had to close parts of their organisation or hand back contracts due to financial pressures in the past year, while the average workforce vacancy rate stands at 16%.

“It is vital that the new Prime Minister’s government takes steps to place social care on a stable financial footing if she is to truly keep her promise of giving ‘everyone everywhere the opportunities they deserve’, including individuals supported by, and employed in, the social care system.

“Unfortunately, the public doesn’t seem to have much faith in her promises, as a poll to be published today by Hft and Opinium found that almost 4/5 of Brits do not believe she will prioritise the rights and interests of people with a learning disability. This is very concerning for the adult social care sector as a whole.”

BKR Care Consultancy

Never one to mince her words, BKR Care Consultancy’s Bhavna Keane-Rao said: “I am always sad and frustrated when those in power say they have reformed social care and have done absolutely nothing. Hopefully, Liz Truss will actually step up and make the right decision, but I will not be holding my breath on this one.”

“I think there is a parallel universe where Johnson was reforming their social care because he was absent from here!”