We need reform of social care

Social care in England faces a host of challenges, including chronic underfunding, a growing demand due to an ageing population and workforce shortages. Reports and proposals aimed at addressing these challenges are frequently commissioned, yet meaningful, long-term solutions are seldom implemented. Despite the urgency of reform, the issue has once more been sidelined.

Social care reform is inherently complex and politically sensitive. Politicians, wary of potential backlash, may shy away from pursuing such reforms, especially if they involve unpopular measures such as tax increases or a substantial redistribution of resources. Overhauling the social care system is costly and in times of financial uncertainty, governments may not see this as a priority, favouring more immediate fiscal pressures. The sheer number of competing priorities, from health care to housing to climate change, means social care is often pushed down the list.

The King's Fund (2025) welcomed the announcement that another commission on adult social care is to take place, suggesting that this new commission could offer an opportunity to break the ongoing cycle of failure to reform social care. There is a history of neglect, with repeated delays in addressing the issue. This inaction has far-reaching consequences for those who depend on social care services, particularly vulnerable groups such as older adults, people with disabilities and their caregivers. Delays in reform exacerbate existing problems, placing an increasing burden on families, unpaid carers and the NHS, which frequently steps in to fill the gaps left by an overstretched social care system.