NCF Responds To Ministerial Reshuffle

On Monday January 8th, the first stages of the ministerial reshuffle have taken place, and there are a number of key changes which impact on social care.

Vic Rayner, NCF Executive Director says of the appointment of Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP as the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care:-

“The recognition of social care within the Secretary of States portfolio is welcome. There has been a great frustration within social care about the lack of parity between health and social care, despite the previous Department of Health having social care within it’s brief. This renewed focus on social care, alongside the work being undertaken around the green paper on Adult Social Care, presents an opportunity for real concrete change. We look forward to working with the Secretary of State and his team to ensure that they secure the opportunity to get the future of social care at the top of the political agenda, where it deserves to be.

We look forward to working with the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the green paper team to help bring understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the care sector, and the critical role of the not for profit care sector in supporting future change.”

Finally, in response to the addition of Housing to the title of Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Vic Rayner says:-

“The role of supported housing in the care and support sector is key, and this widening of the Secretary of State’s brief provides an increased emphasis on the importance of housing. NCF members are key providers of sheltered, extra care and supported housing and will be keen to see how this elevation of the brief of housing translates into greater recognition of the role of supported housing within communities.“