A joint vision for a high quality and sustainable health and care system has been set out by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, NHS Confederation and the LGA.

In a statement and supporting paper, the bodies call for a “major reset of our social care and health services and supports, to prioritise prevention and promote independence”.

To achieve this aim, the three organisations call on the government to: invest in prevention and early intervention; create the ability for plan for the long term; and deliver a long-term, fully funded workforce plan covering health and social care.

The vision call for the reinstatement of: real terms increases to the public health grant at a level seen before the pandemic; incentivising Integrated Care Systems to allocate resources according to deprivation; investing to realise the benefits of social care as a service in its own right; and investing in care and support at home and the community to avoid the need for institutional care.

In addition, the report calls for better discharge planning with the NHS and social care planning appropriate discharge on day one of admission with the involvement of multi-disciplinary teams, adult social care, NHS community health professionals, the community and voluntary sector, housing and mental health services.

As part of long-term discharge planning, the bodies urge the government to deliver “bed-based intermediate support in residential care homes for a limited period with an agreed recovery, rehabilitation and reablement plan to ensure that care and support is focused on helping people to return to their own homes or make decisions about longer term care options”.