Care England Responds to Government’s “Cost of Inaction”

Care England has welcomed the government’s formal response to the Health and Social Care Committee report Adult social care reform: The Cost of Inaction..

The response officially acknowledges the pressing challenges facing our sector and recognises adult social care’s transformative value to individuals, communities, the NHS, and the national economy.

Key Government Commitments:

• A £3.7 billion funding boost to local authorities
• £172 million uplift to the Disabled Facilities Grant, enabling ~15,000 additional home adaptations
• Carer’s Allowance increased by £2,000
• Introduction of Fair Pay Agreement legislation for care workers
• Integration plans through the Better Care Fund, with £9 billion allocated in 2025–26

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said:
“We are pleased to see the government responding seriously to the Committee’s warnings. But pledges must turn into action. The cost of inaction is already mounting from unmet need and workforce strain to NHS pressures and fraying local authority budgets. It’s vital that the Casey Commission now proceeds with urgency, transparency, and ambition.”

What Care England Will Be Watching Closely:

1. Transparency on unmet need – The Committee urged annual reporting on unmet social care needs; Care England will push for clear methodology and real-time data to underpin accountability.
2. Independent impact assessments – Every policy affecting the workforce or funding must include rigorous cross-government assessments to guard against hidden costs or unintended consequences in the sector.
3. Robust cost-of-inaction research – To make the economic case for reform, Care England argues the government must commission independent research into the true cost of the status quo across individuals, families, local councils, the NHS, providers, and wider society.
4. A stable, professional workforce – Implementation of Fair Pay Agreements and career progression pathways must proceed swiftly to retain staff and lift care standards.
5. NHS partnership via Casey Commission – Care England calls for the Commission (chaired by Baroness Casey) to prioritise alignment with the NHS’s 10-Year Health Plan and produce interim recommendations by mid‑2026.

Professor Green continued:
“Reform won’t happen overnight, but the time to act is now. Our sector is resilient, but only if properly funded, supported, and trusted. Care England stands ready to work with government, local authorities, the NHS, and the Casey Commission to turn commitments into real change for the people we support, the workforce, and the nation.”