Displaying items by tag: social care reforms

The Government has unveiled significant reforms to the children’s social care system to prioritise early intervention, tackle profiteering in care provision, and improve outcomes for vulnerable children. Spending on looked-after children has surged from £3.1 billion in 2009/10 to £7 billion in 2022/23, while private care providers have been criticised for substandard care and excessive profits (as much as 23% in some cases). Key reforms include granting Ofsted new powers to fine exploitative care providers, requiring financial transparency from large placement providers, and capping profits if necessary. Local councils will be mandated to create multi-agency safeguarding teams and extend support to care leavers up to age 21 through the Staying Close programme. The reforms also aim to shift focus to early intervention, ensuring families are involved in decisions about their children. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said that these changes aim to end the neglect within the system and give every child a chance to thrive.

Sir Andrew Dilnot created the social care reform that prevents people losing homes to pay for care. But proposed changes made to how the cap works means 60% of older people who need social care would lose out, compared with the plan he proposed. The changes would save the government hundreds of millions of pounds.