NCF Members Convene with Senior DHSC Officials for Discussions on Adult Social Care
The National Care Forum (NCF) – recently convened a roundtable discussion between a cross-section of its not-for-profit members and senior officials from the Department of Health and Social Care including Director General, Sally Warren.
The discussions were held at a specialist residential home for people with acquired brain injuries operated by NCF member, Brainkind in Aylesbury and also included an opportunity for discussions with people living there and staff who deliver support.
The roundtable acted as a very valuable exchange highlighting the vital role of not-for-profit care and support in areas such as the shaping of a National Care Service and associated standards, Neighbourhood Health Services, pay, terms and conditions of the care workforce and the importance of housing in the shaping of current and future health and care policy.
The roundtable was designed to give members the chance to have future-focused conversations which explored the sort of care and support they want and need to provide in their communities. Critically, whilst current issues such as commissioning and funding challenges, and the lack of cohesion between the housing, health and care systems featured prominently in the conversations, the future needs of people and their communities were at the heart of the dialogue.
Vic Rayner OBE, CEO of National Care Forum commented: “Members across the NCF helped us shape a day for senior DHSC officials that enabled both the operational and strategic realities of care to be on the agenda. We wanted to start off with the voices of the workforce and those drawing on care and support, to ensure these were front and centre of the discussions. Dialogue like this is critical in helping officials fully understand the essential role that social care plays in our communities and the difference it makes to people’s lives.
“We were then able to bring together in one room a truly diverse mix of not-for-profit providers, who between them represent every area of adult social care, for some focussed discussion. The day-to-day reality of delivering care framed a positive focus on solutions, exploring how things could be done differently, particularly in relation to the vital role of housing with care, as well as different models of delivery including Local Authority Trading Companies (LATCos), the role of technology and how critical it is for there to be a clear strategic direction from the centre.
“We’re very grateful for the hospitality extended by everyone at Brainkind and to all the providers, staff and people who shared their lived experience for taking the time to join the discussions. We also extend our thanks to Sally Warren and DHSC colleagues for joining us. Combining this kind of collaborative thinking with the ambitions of the Casey Commission we can start to envisage a dynamic care and support system that is fairer, more sustainable, easier to access and ready for the challenges and opportunities the future holds.”
