Labour urged to prioritise social work after huge election victory

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The party has won 412 seats, giving it a majority in the House of Commons of 174.

Keir Starmer has become Labour’s first prime minister since Gordon Brown left office in 2010 and is now appointing his cabinet. Wes Streeting has become health and social care secretary, with responsibility for adult social care, and Bridget Phillipson education secretary, with oversight of children’s services, reprising the equivalent roles to the ones they took in opposition.

Stephen Kinnock has been made minister for care, with responsibility for adults’ services in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), while the government is yet to confirm who will oversee children’s social care in the Department for Education. It could be former social worker Janet Daby.

The party has been elected on a manifesto that did not reference to social work and made relatively limited commitments on social care, none of which was funded.

It has also pledged not to raise income tax rates, national insurance or VAT and to stick to tight fiscal rules, including being on course to reduce public debt as a share of national income over the medium term. As a result, it has very limited scope to raise public spending.

Call to prioritise social work

However, in the wake of Labour’s long-expected triumph, the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) and Social Workers Union (SWU) called for early discussions with the new government so social workers and those they support are “at the forefront of [its] plans from day one”.

BASW chief executive Ruth Allen (credit: BASW)

“We acknowledge that the new government faces significant challenges and will have desperately difficult decisions to make,” said BASW chief executive Ruth Allen.

“However, the problems our profession and society face run deep, and requires bold and immediate actions to address. It really is time to get it right.

“From better resourcing of social work and funding of social care, to measures that alleviate poverty, reform mental health provision, protect human rights, and much more. Ministers must hit the ground running, and BASW will be working hard to influence and hold them to account.”

John McGowan, Social Workers Union (photo: Simon Hadley)

For the SWU, general secretary John McGowan said: “Social work has been at the sharp end of poor political choices that have plunged our profession into a recruitment and retention crisis and led to a decline in working conditions, while simultaneously increasing demand on services as communities become worse off.

“We hear from members everyday about the toll this is taking, and the buck stops at those in power with the responsibility to fix it. This is the strong case we’ll be making to the new government over the days, weeks and months ahead.”

Priorities for adult social care

In its first message to the new government, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services set out three priorities for adult social care.

“Three key issues we believe the government must prioritise are the need to improve the pay, terms and conditions of the social care workforce; provide improved support to unpaid carers; and to provide care closer to home so that those drawing on care can live the lives they want in their own homes and communities,” said ADASS chief executive Anna Hemmings.

For the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG), chief executive Rhidian Hughes said: “The government faces significant challenges ahead, including putting social care on a surer footing, addressing the cost-of-living crisis, which is disproportionately impacting disabled people, and addressing the national scandal of autistic people and people with a learning disability being detained in long-stay hospitals.

“Only by prioritising the provision of high-quality support for disabled people of all ages, will we have a fairer society where everyone is able to thrive.”

‘Urgent’ need to invest in and reform adult social care

Meanwhile, independent care provider representative body Care England said the new administration needed to “invest in and reform [adult social care] as an urgent priority”.

“There are practical measures the new government must implement within its first 100 days to secure a sustainable future for our sector,” said its chief executive, Martin Green.

The Homecare Association, which represents domiciliary care providers, said there was a need for a “care revolution”.

“We’re not just talking about tweaking the system,” said its chief executive Jane Towson. “We need a complete transformation. Yes, we’ll harness AI and robots, but let’s not forget the irreplaceable human touch. We need smart tech and even smarter policies.”

“Labour now has the chance to rewrite the rules of care. Let’s create a system that’s as innovative as it is compassionate, as efficient as it is empathetic. Supporting people at home must be at the heart of government policy”.

‘Need for system fit for the 21st century’

For the Social Care Institute for Excellence, chief executive Kathryn Smith said: “More people are requesting support, but fewer are getting the help they need. With demand increasing, local authorities do not have the money to meet it and staff numbers are not keeping pace.”

She added: “A social care system fit for the 21st century is in the national interest and the formidable challenges facing the social care sector cannot be a justification for inaction.

“The cornerstone of future policy change ought to be co-producing solutions with people with lived experience, their families and carers, as well as care providers. Only an inclusive, collaborative approach will improve the efficacy and sustainability of any policy change.”

‘£6bn funding gap’

The Local Government Association (LGA) welcomed the new government with a reference to the £6.2bn gap it has calculated councils face over the next two years between the resources they have and what they need to maintain services at existing levels. 

Much of this is driven by adults’ and children’s social care pressures, according to the LGA.

“It is important we find a sustainable and long term financial solution, as well as the powers and levers required so we can deliver on the priorities of the new government,” said new LGA chair Louise Gittins.

Tackling children’s social care pressures is ‘urgent challenge’

The financial pressures facing councils, including in relation to social care, were also referenced by the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) in its response to the election result.

“For too long children’s needs, their rights and outcomes have not been prioritised and for too long councils have been severely underfunded in the face of rising levels of need and costs,” said ADCS president Andy Smith.

“A growing number of councils are effectively bankrupt, or dangerously close to this and many vital and valued services, including services that help children and families before they reach crisis point, are at risk.”

Smith added: “The new government has many urgent challenges to address. This must include the crisis in local government funding, growing pressures in children’s social care and the SEND system and huge challenges facing children’s mental health. “