National learning disability charity Hft and Care England have hosted a Parliamentary roundtable to discuss adult social care funding and workforce challenges.

The roundtable on 27 March in partnership with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Adult Social Care discussed the findings of the recent Sector Pulse Check report which found one-third of adult social care providers, including half of smaller organisations, have considered exiting the market in the past 12 months

Chair Damian Green MP, co-chair of the APPG on Adult Social Care, said: “This is an incredibly useful report that deserves serious attention from government. The care system is full of people doing their best but there are obstacles to delivering the care that people need and deserve – those obstacles need to be addressed.”

The roundtable was attended by Parliamentarians from across the House and key representatives from the adult social care sector, who discussed the report’s findings, its implications and how they would address the challenges going forward.

Professor Martin Green OBE, chief executive of Care England, said: “Monday’s roundtable was a timely opportunity to discuss the Sector Pulse Check report and its findings, with an extremely constructive conversation featuring a diverse set of key stakeholders sharing their approaches to navigating the challenges identified.

“Despite the diversity of involvement, there was a clear consensus that a long-term approach is desperately needed and long-overdue. This approach must be one that transcends political boundaries and serves to deliver a sustainable adult social care sector centred around staff and the people we support.

“We look forward to taking key points from Monday’s roundtable forward in our work and ensuring that the Sector Pulse Check report is afforded the consideration it duly deserves.”

The Sector Pulse Check report includes a number of recommendations including calls for the government to develop a pay framework to establish a minimum care wage and a continuation of enhanced support for energy costs equivalent to that offered through the initial Energy Bill Relief Scheme expiring on 31 March 2023.