Care Support Independence

Over 100 members of the public, among them students, nurses, a DJ and a car mechanic, gathered at London’s Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel for the final of four engagement events around the care and support Green Paper.

Delegates saw presentations from Care and Support Minister Phil Hope and others, spelling out the challenges the care sector faces.

Delegates then examined the issues in a series of often animated and high-spirited round table discussions.

“We are asking stakeholders and citizens what they think about some of the choices and options for the future of care system before we publish a Green Paper,” Mr Hope said. “This process is absolutely vital for us as we take this forward.”

The Green Paper will be a report on the state of care and support and will make recommendations about how services are funded and delivered in the future. Green Papers are often the first step towards changing the law.

The Minister highlighted the fact that an ageing population and growing numbers of disabled people will put the care and support system under pressure in coming years, pointing out that if services remain as they are over the next 10-15 years, a £6 billion annual “funding gap” will be created.

“If we don’t have a radical rethink then we won’t be able to meet demand and supply the services that people need and deserve,” he said.

He added that any new system should be fair, affordable, sustainable and based on what people want. It would enable them to stay healthy, independent and play an active role in their community.

Delegates took part in several voting sessions on key issues and submitted written questions to Mr Hope and Alexandra Norrish, Head of Social Care Strategy at the Department of Health, via a question box. Several also gave their views and reactions on camera in a Big Brother-style diary room.

Table discussions covered a wide range of topics, but all present were in no doubt as to the complexity of the issues around care and support needs.

“No two people have exactly the same needs,” one delegate said, “The elderly use family for support, but many disabled people use the government and family. They need more attention but from different people. Family care also depends on money and distances and level of commitment."

There was also great awareness of different community needs: “Every area in the community is different. It depends on social issues, care and support can’t be top down, it must be at local level,” another delegate said.

Who should be responsible for care and support, be it government, family, the individual or all three, was another hot topic: “It comes down to human rights, people’s rights to live a full life independently, irrespective of age or disability. So maybe it is the duty of government to ensure quality of life,” was one view.

Access was of paramount importance to many: “There are people out there who need help but don’t have access to services or don’t know how to get it,” said one delegate.

The joining up of services was also seen as key: “Care services should be connected by the NHS or a specialist body to tell you what care you are entitled to and what you need.”

Among many ideas around funding and service provision were: Voluntary community work to earn credits towards future care and support, tax breaks to encourage employers to make contributions, and paid days for employees to go and do care and support work in the community.

“The quality of the discussions around the room has been amazing,” said Alexandra Norrish in her closing address. “It has given us plenty of food for thought.”

Previous citizens engagement events were held in Bristol, Dudley and Leeds. A final event will be held in Birmingham, with delegates from the previous events invited to recap on their discussions and findings, and further examine how funding might work in the future.