New cross-party parliamentary group launched to tackle ‘crumbling’ social care

A new parliamentary group on social care has been launched at Westminster amid warnings from GMB Union the care sector is ‘in crisis’.

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Care (APPG Social Care) is a cross-party group of MPs who have come together to look at the care system, funding and state of staffing in the sector.

The group is sponsored by GMB Union, while its first inquiry will be sponsored by care provider HC-One

GMB and HC-One entered into an agreement last summer at the launch of Careforce (pictured); a dedicated campaign to look at professionalisation, skills and the prestige of the care sector.

The inquiry is due to take evidence in the coming months as the sector waits for the long overdue government green paper on social care.

Tim Roache (right), GMB Union General Secretary, said: “Throughout our lives, we will all come into contact with care – be it our mums and dads needing help, working as a carer or knowing someone who does. Ultimately we will all need it ourselves.

“Care workers do a crucial, professional job but are not paid, seen or valued as the frontline public sector workers they are.

“Our care system right now is in crisis, it is crumbling beneath us because the funding isn’t there.

”I’m proud GMB is supporting this new parliamentary group which will look at real lives and real situations, and will make evidenced-based proposals about what must be done in government to make sure are have a care system which values our care workers, and everyone gets the care and support they need.”

Justin Hutchens (left), HC-One CEO, said:“Adult social care in increasingly part of the essential infrastructure of the society in which we live.

”With an ageing population, it is vital that people who require support have access to sustainable, high quality and flexible services to help them live with the dignity they deserve.

“HC-One welcomes this new parliamentary group in order to give social care the high profile it deserves, celebrate those staff who provide these essential tasks and point to where improvements must be made.

“The current system is in crisis and we must move forward to ensure we all play our part in achieving the changes required’.

Picture (c) Twitter.