With this month’s magazine being an election special, the team at Caring Times knew it needed to hear from all corners of the sector, and who better to explain home care’s demands for Keir Starmer than Homecare Association chief executive Jane Townson?

The UK faces growing demand for care services because of an ageing population and chronic ill-health.

To meet this challenge, we must transform how we fund, provide and ensure access to care. Our manifesto for home care highlights seven areas of focus for the new government.

1. Home at the heart

Older and disabled people prefer to receive support and care at home. We need increased public awareness of the value of home care and for ‘home first’ to become the default option. The government, NHS and councils must give people clear information so they can make informed choices. When assessing needs, it’s important to prioritise supporting individuals at home. This includes assessing their homes and providing adaptations or technology to assist.

2. Power in partnership

Collaboration across social care, health, housing and voluntary sectors is crucial for addressing people’s complex needs efficiently. Home care providers must have a voice in integrated care system discussions and decision-making at all levels. To empower people needing and giving care, we must engage them in shaping services.

3. Innovate to improve

With the use of data and predictive analytics, we can identify those at higher risk and take action early to maintain health. We need models of home care that prioritise prevention and address social factors to extend healthy lifespans. By combining technology, data analysis and in-person care, we can enhance the quality and efficiency of home care.

4. Care as a career

To meet rising demand for care, the sector will need 440,000 more care workers by 2035. We need a workforce strategy to attract and retain a skilled home care workforce within the UK. This must address recruitment, retention, training, working conditions, recognition, collaboration, workforce planning and funding. Investment is necessary to ensure care experts at all levels receive fair and secure pay and terms and conditions of employment.

5. Invest in the future

We need a multi-year funding settlement of an extra £18 billion a year for social care to meet future demand, improve access to care and cover costs. The government must find new ways to fund care. Suggestions include: a cap on lifetime care costs; a social care insurance scheme; private insurance; and public-private partnerships.

6. Commission for value

Councils and the NHS must commission for long-term value and outcomes, not short-term price, which risks substandard care. Investing in early support and prevention helps reduce future costs. Contracting models that provide secure income can improve employment conditions and foster innovation.

The government must fund councils to pay a fair cost of care and legislate to ensure they pay a minimum tariff to ensure providers can comply with regulations. 

7. Regulate to protect

Effective regulation is essential for protecting the rights and wellbeing of those who draw on home care services. By ensuring all providers of personal care meet rigorous standards and dealing swiftly with poor performance, regulators can drive quality improvement and ensure public confidence in services. Regulators must be well-led, adequately resourced, and held to account for their performance. All providers of personal care should be subject to oversight. A professional register for care experts should recognise their skills and maintain standards.

With smart strategies, collaboration and investment, we can build a future where more of us remain healthy for longer. Supporting people at home must be at the heart of government policy.