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On 6 May, as Tony Blair and co were loosening their ties and sighing with relief at the general election result, some social care professionals would have felt the odd pang of concern. Not about Labour winning a historic third term but about those MPs who will not be taking their seats in the chamber again. Labour MPs David Hinchliffe and Hilton Dawson both stood down after a combined 24 years in parliament in which their hard work and commitment helped promote social care.

There is no denying the positive impact Dawson and Hinchliffe had as champions of social care's vulnerable clients and their presence in the corridors of power will be missed by the sector. But does this mean social care's presence in parliament has disappeared? Not according to Tony Hunter, president of the Association of Directors of Social Services. He is optimistic that social care will remain high on the political agenda, not least because of the recent adult care green paper and the Children Act 2004.


He says: "The issue for the ADSS is to look at the role MPs have in the new government and seek to demonstrate to them how we can contribute to the delivery of the policy agenda."

Lynne Berry, chief executive of the General Social Care Council, says every MP will have the chance to support the needs of those who use social care services and their carers as well as stand up for the professionals undertaking this work.

One of the new intake is Mary Creagh, the Labour MP for Hinchliffe's Wakefield constituency. Although she is committed to improving the lives of disadvantaged people she emphasises she is not going to take on Hinchliffe's exact remit just because it is the same seat. Instead, she is interested in highlighting the needs of people with hearing loss as she has used a digital hearing aid because of her own difficulties.

One of the remaining social care supporters in parliament is Paul Burstow, Liberal Democrat MP for Sutton and Cheam since 1997, who recently stepped down from his party's commuity care spokesperson in order to apply to be on the health select committee. He hopes this parliament will build on the constructive work done during the last administration. He says: "The green paper on adults needs to be picked up and run with in order to get a debate about the role and purpose of social care in the future."

Is there a clear runner able to step into the shoes vacated by people like Dawson and Hinchliffe? While not wanting to nail their colours to the mast just yet, many commentators feel there are a few contenders, not least Burstow. The soon-to-be created all-party parliamentary group on social care on which he intends to sit - it replaces the all-party personal social services panel - is expected to have a higher profile. But Burstow says it must put service users first and is recognised as a service in its own right, not just one that props up "other parts of the system."

Another name dropped into the ring is David Kidney, Labour MP for Stafford, of whom Hilton Dawson has "high hopes" for championing children's issues.

Meanwhile, Berry believes a new voice will emerge from Westminster in support of users. She says they will need to "take forward the agenda to drive up standards in social care, build a high quality workforce and help professionals work together effectively".

But if they are to run with the social care baton, exactly what qualities would the MPs need? Hunter says they need to be able to see through all the other issues competing for their time and identify what really matters to people. "It is easy to get sidetracked by issues that suddenly appear, but much of social care's contribution is selflessly done day in, day out, and MPs need to sift out the urgent from the also important. It is vital to keep an eye on the things that matter most and that are not always on top of the in-tray."

The need to stand up fearlessly for children heads the wish-list of Patricia Durr, parliamentary officer at the Children's Society. Such a stance is not popular in the current climate where children and young people are often tarred with the antisocial brush. Durr argues MPs need to see beyond this. "Children are often only seen in relation to education and the emphasis is on parental choice. They are not constituents in their own right and this rides roughshod over their basic human rights."

One way to improve MPs' knowledge of social care comes from Hinchliffe, who suggests that MPs spend time shadowing social workers in social services departments. He says: "We have placements in the armed forces and top companies and it is crucial that we get this arrangement in social care." He adds some of his former colleagues would be keen to do this, especially if it had the backing of the ADSS.

Hunter says the ADSS is happy for this sort of arrangement in some social services departments, but insists that it is no substitute for "listening and the right, open attitude". He adds: "While the thinking behind this is good it is not a panacea because at worst it is something that MPs can tick off as having done without taking the issues on board."

Although the Children's Society supports MPs going on to the social work front line, Durr says it should not become a mandatory requirement. "We have seen through the work of select committees that if MPs are willing to listen and learn then direct social care experience isn't necessary."


A key topic for the new parliament to recognise is the contribution of social work and social care in terms of delivering the government's agenda, not only in relation to the Children Act and the adult care green paper but to areas such as public health. Hunter says: "Achieving public health is about people's access to what improves their quality of life."

Whatever the future holds in Westminster, Burstow is sure that he and his fellow parliamentarians view social care as an area of growing importance. "People see it as an area that needs to be pushed much more and for it to be championed."

With Burstow an established voice for social care in parliament, the sector will have to wait and see who will join him.

Look back in anger? Views from departed stalwarts of care 

David Hinchliffe

By the time you read this David Hinchliffe may be on a canal boat, watching the sunset with his wife.  For the first time since the 56-year-old former Labour MP for Wakefield became a councillor at 22, Hinchliffe is not directly involved in politics.  He spent 18 years in parliament and, when he decided to step down as an MP, he was the highly respected chairperson of the health select committee. So why leave?

One reason was his desire to pursue other interests while he is still young and fit. Another was his disillusionment with life in the House of Commons. 

He says: "It has changed. There is an increasing amount of 'yaa boo sucks!' about it and far less serious analysis of policy by the government or opposition. I found that whole process rather bland."

Now that he no longer walks the corridors of power Hinchliffe wants social care professionals themselves to press other MPs to make sure "the social care flag is flown". Otherwise he fears the voice of social care may get lost as there is insufficient lobbying by those involved in social work and social care. 

He says: "I would argue strongly that, unless they get off their backsides and lobby parliament and MPs, their work will not be recognised. This area of policy is unknown to the majority of MPs." 

He cannot think of an MP with a social work background who will be the sector's next champion, although his replacement on the health select committee is bound to have some influence. He says: "There isn't going to be anybody who'll be interested unless they are pushed to go forward." 

Perhaps it is time for the sector to start pushing.   

Hilton Dawson 

After eight years in parliament Hilton Dawson, the former Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre, is going back to the front line. 

A social worker before becoming an MP, he is now on the books of a social work recruitment agency and registered with the General Social Care Council.

When his three-month contract with children's charity ChildLine - where he is working on a secret project - finishes he wants to do some front-line work. "I would like to do some face-to-face social work. I've missed it and honestly believe it is a good job worth doing."

He sums up his motivation for turning his back on parliament: "The huge change agenda for children won't be promoted on the green benches of Westminster as it will be in children's organisations out in the field. This is a huge opportunity to improve children's lives." 

He wants MPs in the new parliament to become much more vocal. He argues that the social care voice is largely unheard in parliament and an institutional change needs to be brought about to improve the situation. 

He says: "Not only MPs but council professionals and social care interest groups need to raise this subject more effectively. They have to insist that these are crucial issues that need to be raised on all sides of the house." 

He urges MPs to watch closely what is happening in their own communities and see what change is happening or needs to occur.

Dawson adds that if people stood up for social care workers and their clients to the same extent as teachers are supported, these services and their users would reap the benefit.

He has certainly shown MPs how to blow the social care horn.