Stephen Kinnock MP, the Minister of State for Care, spoke at the Children and Adult Services Conference in Liverpool outlining his Vision for Social Care.
The government's vision for adult social care - GOV.UK
- He highlighted the Government's desire to move from hospital to community, from sickness to prevention, and from analogue to digital.
- The Government intends to build a National Care Service that will be delivered locally but underpinned by consistent national standards.
- He felt developing cross-party consensus was a priority.
- He said that better pay and terms and conditions for careworkers would be a foundation of the National Care Service, including via the Fair Pay Agreement.
- He expressed support for unpaid carers, including by increasing the weekly earnings limit on Carers' Allowance.
- He announced over £22m new funding for the Accelerating Reform Fund.
- He said that he recognised the pressures on social care employers of employers National Insurance Contributions and noted that local government spending power would increase by 3.2%.
- He highlighted the importance of listening to people supported by services.
- He encouraged attendees to participate in the NHS 10 year plan consultation.