Prime Minister Must Make Social Care Reform the Legacy of This Government, Says Mike Padgham

Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech today about the need for change and reform, Mike Padgham has urged the Government to bring forward long-overdue reforms to social care and make fixing the system the defining legacy of this Parliament.

Mr Padgham, Honorary President of Independent Care Group, said successive governments had failed to tackle the growing crisis in social care for decades and warned that the country could not afford any further delay.

He said:

“If the Prime Minister truly wants to deliver lasting change and create a legacy his government can be proud of, then social care reform must be at the very heart of it.

“For too long, governments of all colours have avoided dealing with the crisis in social care. The problems have been kicked down the road decade after decade whilst older and vulnerable people, unpaid carers and care providers have struggled to cope.

“This government now has the opportunity to be the one that finally grasps the nettle and delivers the reform the country desperately needs.

“Social care reform is not just overdue — it is urgent. Every day we delay, more people are left without the support they need, more unpaid carers are pushed to breaking point and more pressure is piled onto the NHS.

“If ministers are serious about change, they should bring reforms forward much earlier and stop waiting years for action. People need help now, not in another Parliament.

“Done properly, reform could transform lives, improve dignity and independence for millions of people and give families the quality of life they deserve.

“It would also give this Labour Government something genuinely historic to be proud of — finally fixing one of the biggest unresolved challenges facing our society.”

Mr Padgham said the scale of the crisis was clear from the growing pressures facing the sector.

England’s social care system continues to struggle with major workforce shortages, with around 130,000 vacancies reported across adult social care services in recent years.

At the same time, millions of unpaid carers are propping up the system. Census figures show around 5 million people in England and Wales provide unpaid care, with many giving the equivalent of full-time support every week.

Research has also shown unpaid carers are significantly more likely to suffer poor physical and mental health because of the pressures they face.

Mr Padgham added:

“We cannot continue relying on exhausted families and an overstretched workforce to hold the system together.

“Social care should be seen as an investment in people, communities and dignity — not as an afterthought.

“This is the moment for boldness and leadership. The country has waited long enough.”

Time to Put Social Care at the Heart of National Debate

The Independent Care Group (ICG) is calling for social care to be placed “at the heart of a national debate” ahead of the local elections, warning that candidates must be judged not on promises alone, but on whether they truly grasp the scale of a crisis pushing parts of the sector to the brink.

ICG says that social care has become one of the defining moral, economic and political issues facing the country. Yet for too long it has been treated as a secondary concern – discussed only when hospitals are overwhelmed, councils are under pressure, or families reach crisis point.

The reality is that adult social care underpins the NHS, local government, the economy and family life itself. Without a functioning care sector, hospitals cannot discharge patients safely, families cannot remain in work, and vulnerable people are left without dignity, independence or security.

As the country approaches a critical election period, voters are being urged to look beyond traditional party loyalty and instead consider which candidates and parties truly understand the scale of the social care crisis – and are prepared to confront it honestly.

While all major political parties speak about reform, the public has heard promises on social care for decades, with little meaningful change. The system continues to face mounting pressure, with ongoing debates around workforce recruitment, local government funding, NHS integration, prevention, unpaid carers and long-term funding reform.

Approaches differ across the political spectrum. Some parties advocate for increased public investment and structural reform, while others emphasise local control, efficiency or broader economic change. There are also significant differences in policies on immigration and workforce planning – a critical issue for a sector heavily reliant on international recruitment.

However, one central question remains:

Who is prepared to treat social care as essential national infrastructure, rather than a political afterthought?

Mike Padgham, Honorary President of the Independent Care Group, said: “Social care is the foundation that so much of our society depends on, yet it is still not being treated with the urgency it deserves. We cannot continue to rely on short-term fixes and repeated promises while the system struggles under growing pressure. This election is a crucial moment for voters to ask serious questions of those seeking office – not just about what they promise, but whether they truly understand the scale of the challenge and are willing to act. Social care must be recognised as essential national infrastructure, not something that is only addressed when crisis hits.”

“The public deserves honesty. Social care cannot survive on short-term fixes, emergency funding announcements or rhetoric about “valuing carers.” The pressures facing providers, workers, unpaid carers and those who rely on services are now profound. Workforce shortages, rising costs, increasing complexity of need and fragile provider sustainability are pushing parts of the system towards collapse.”

This election, the ICG says, presents an important opportunity for voters to examine where parties and candidates have stood historically on social care, what they are proposing now, and whether they genuinely understand the urgency of the situation.

Voters are encouraged to ask:

• Has this candidate consistently supported social care?

• Do they understand the pressures on providers, carers and families?

• Are they willing to prioritise long-term reform over political convenience?

• Do their policies match the scale of the challenge?

• Will they stand up for vulnerable people when difficult funding decisions are made?

Social care affects every community, every family and every generation. It is no longer possible to separate the future of the NHS, local government or economic recovery from the future of care itself.

Voters are being urged to carefully consider the positions of all parties and support the candidates they believe are most capable of addressing the deep and urgent social care challenges the country now faces.

A statement from iCG

You may have seen an item on the ITV News this week, featuring parents reporting the restriction of visits to their children; adults with learning disabilities in supporting living (i.e. they live in their own homes, supported by a care provider). We are shocked that, allegedly, restrictions were introduced as a result of parents raising concerns and formal complaints about the quality of care.

The Independent Care Group (iCG) represents a range of independent social care providers, including a number of organisations that deliver specialist supported living services designed to help individuals, who often have multiple disabilities, live as independently as possible within their own home. The care provider delivers support to these individuals, which helps them with all aspects of life. This includes their relationships with family and friends, which are a central part of everyday life.

The vast majority of providers delivering specialist supported living services do so by enabling the people they support to live the life they choose and are driven by a values-based approach with a focus on high quality care and outcomes for the person being supported.

The Independent Care Group is proud to be the representative body of over 200 members that share the values of high-quality services and person-centred care. The news item, whilst disappointing, is not representative of most supported living models.

Any parents who have concerns that they are not being listened to by a care provider, or local authorities, should contact CQC (Care Quality Commission), the independent regulator of health and social care in England, who have powers to inspect care services where there is an identified risk.