The Race Equality Foundation is hugely disappointed by the government’s announcement today that it is effectively cutting its investment plans for social care. Today’s announcement is cruel and unfair to the millions of people who need it most.
It is particularly brutal as plans outlined by the government in its paper People at the Heart of Care, said it would be aiming to increase opportunities for career progression and development in the sector backed by at least £500m in investment. Today’s announcement is £250m over 2 years. Workforce capacity is already at its lowest levels. This funding simply won’t stretch far enough for what needs to be done.
It’s also hugely disappointing for large numbers of Black, Asian and minority ethnic people who are vastly represented in the social care workforce. They will see little increase in their pay, training or working conditions.
Earlier this year, the Race Equality Foundation partnered on The Archbishops’ report on social care called Care and Support Reimagined: A National Care Covenant for England which set out reimagining social care and support in a way that addressed the needs and concerns of everyone involved in care: people who draw on care and support; people who work in the social care sector; people who care for their family members, friends, and neighbours. It called for a complete overhauled of how the social care system.
Jabeer Butt, CEO, Race Equality Foundation, said
“Social care is not a luxury. It is essential care that helps people live their daily lives and impacts positively on the NHS. Social care has been underfunded for years, and further set back by Covid19. With an ageing population, more and more people will need care services. We can’t simply put off the inevitable until later.
“We know that some social care services are already not reaching those they should. Many people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups are underrepresented in their use of social care services, and often receive poorer treatment. Millions of people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities will continue to be let down.
“We need to fix our broken social care system to enable everyone to live well. This is no time to be tinkering around the edges of a social care system that has for too long left people who draw on care and support feeling marginalised, carers feeling exhausted and undervalued, and a system which provides no clarity about what is expected of each of us.
“Back in 2019, the government promised they would fix social care. Today’s plans are nowhere near a fix. Far too many frail and vulnerable people will continue to go without the vital care they need. We can’t carry on like this.”
