Governments ‘asleep at the wheel’ over social care, says head of review

Baroness Louise Casey, who is leading an independent review of adult social care in England, says successive governments have failed to properly oversee the sector. She argues that care for older people and adults with disabilities has grown without a clear plan, leaving support less consistent and valued than NHS care.

Research published by her commission says England lacks the clear system of stewardship found in countries such as France and Germany. People with the same condition can face different assessments, waiting times and support depending on where they live, while people who fund their own care pay an average of 40% more than councils pay for equivalent care. Casey also criticised the sector’s pandemic response, described as an afterthought in a Covid inquiry report; her final recommendations are due next summer.