Published: September 2020
COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on social care. By June 2020 there had been more than 30,500 excess deaths among care home residents, and social care staff have been more than twice as likely to die from COVID-19 as other adults. Deep-rooted inequalities in society have also been amplified by the crisis, as have the sector’s fragile finances and the low pay and conditions experienced by many care workers.
This position paper for commissioners and senior managers working in the health and social care sector sets out the findings of Beyond COVID: new thinking on the future of adult social care.
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More about this report Open
This report is based on:
- a series of articles and podcasts from over 25 stakeholders which explore the impact of COVID-19 and the future of social. The essays and podcasts are now published in our COVID-19 resource hub
- outputs from the Beyond COVID-19 roundtable we held on 22 July, attended by Helen Whately MP, Minister for State
- contributions to our thinking from the SCIE Board and the Co-production Steering Group, which is made up with people with lived experience
- SCIE’s broader work with the sector to support improvement, and particularly insights from the DHSC-funded Social Care Innovation Network and DHSC-funded work to support the sector to recover from COVID-19, which involved extensive engagement with the sector.

Foreword
Forewords from SCIE’s Chair and Chief Executive

Executive summary
Summary of Beyond COVID: new thinking on the future of adult social care.

Recommendations
Important recommendations from this position paper.

Negative impacts
Key negative impacts of COVID-19 on the sector.

Positive impacts
Key positive impacts of COVID-19 on the sector.

Challenges of COVID
Key challenges facing adult social care.

Opportunities of COVID
Key opportunities for adult social care beyond COVID-19.

Imagining a better future
What the features of a future care and support system need to be.

Conclusion
Now is the time for a bold action to transform social care for several decades to come.
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Participants in essays, podcasts and roundtable Open
- Ade Adetosoye, Chief Executive, London Borough of Bromley
- Deborah Alsina, Chief Executive, Independent Age
- Rt Hon Paul Burstow, Chair, SCIE
- James Bullion, President, Association of Directors of Adult Social Care
- Kim Carey, Director of Adult Services, London Borough of Bromley
- Professor Paul Corrigan, Independent Consultant
- Christina Cornwell, Director, Health Lab, Nesta
- Neil Crowther, Social Care Future
- Sir Andrew Dilnot, University of Oxford
- Clenton Farquharson, Chair, Think Local Act Personal
- Susie Finlayson, Development Manager, Power to Change
- Martin Farran, Director of Adult Social Services, Liverpool City Council
- Alex Fox, Chief Executive, Shared Lives Plus
- Mark Harvey, Chief Social Worker, Department of Health and Social Care
- Edel Harris, Chief Executive, Mencap
- Professor Donna Hall, Chair, New Local Government Network
- Cllr Georgia Gould, Leader, London Borough of Camden
- Jane Green, Trustee, SCIE
- Alex Khaldi, Senior Associate, SCIE
- Cllr Iain Hudspeth, Leader, Oxfordshire County Council
- Fran Leddra, Chief Social Worker, Adults, Department of Health and Social Care
- Sian Lockwood, Chief Executive, Community Catalysts
- Sarah Pickup, Deputy Chief Executive, Local Government Association
- Mary McKenna, Trustee, SCIE
- Professor Robin Miller, Co-Director, Centre for Health and Social Care Leadership, University of Birmingham
- Mike Padgham, Chief Executive, St Cecilias
- Martin Routledge, Convener, Social Care Future
- Oongah Smyth, Chief Executive, Skills for Care
- Caroline Speirs, Head, Think Local Act Personal
- Ossie Stuart, Trustee, SCIE
- Kate Terroni, Chief Inspector Adults Social Care, Care Quality Commission
- Jane Townson, Chief Executive, UKHCA
- Sally Warren, Director of Policy, The King’s Fund
- Helen Whately MP, Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Care
- Rob Whiteman, Chief Executive, Cipfa