The membership body representing directors of social services has published a ‘roadmap’ for fixing social care and says there is a consensus on what needs to be done but a lack of political will.

The Association of Directors of Social Services’ (ADASS) roadmap sets out how care and support could be transformed in England, focusing on 10 key areas for change from improving housing options for older and disabled people to tackling the chronic social care staffing issues.

It charts what needs to be done in the next two years, what changes are needed in two to five years and longer term over the next 10 years to ensure that everyone who needs care and support, can access it.

The association’s president Sarah McClinton ‘After decades of false dawns on reforms and funding, never in my professional career have I seen the adult care system so close to breaking point.

‘Millions of people are in pain or distress because they aren’t getting the care they need and family and friends picking up the pieces are being pushed to the edge.

‘We’ve been trying to patch-up social care for years, but we’ve run out of road. We need to act now to save social care.

‘We don’t expect the Government to wave a magic wand, but we do need the political will to invest in a long-term plan to ensure good care is available to everyone, everywhere.’

Commenting on the roadmap, Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Community Wellbeing Board, said: ‘This helpful roadmap adds to the growing body of evidence and reports that show the significant pressure social care is facing. It also rightly puts people who draw on care and support at the centre, articulating the huge value and reach of social care.

‘Social care needs £13bn of additional funding to address both the short and long term challenges the sector is facing. There needs to be immediate investment to end this crisis, address unmet and under-met need and allow all people to access the health and care services they need to live an equal life.’

For more on this topic, check out ADASS trustee Richard Humphries' recent article in The MJ (£).