03 March 2025
Kathryn Smith, Chief Executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), responds to The King’s Fund’s Social Care 360 report published today, 3 March 2025, highlighting the urgent need to address unmet need and inequality in social care.
Kathryn Smith OBE said:
The report lays bare the stark reality of unmet need in adult social care. With 2.1 million new requests for support in 2023/24 — a 15% increase since 2015/16 — it is clear that demand is rising rapidly. Particularly concerning is the 31% increase in requests from working-age adults, a group too often overlooked in discussions about social care. Yet, despite this surge, access to support remains deeply uneven, with many individuals falling through the cracks.
The report also highlights that the reliance on means-testing and local funding variations means that where you live and what you earn can determine the level of support you receive. This leaves many without the care they need to live with dignity and independence.
Although social care spending has risen to £32 billion, this increase has not been enough to close the widening gaps in provision. Persistent workforce shortages — exacerbated by low pay and a lack of recognition — further deepen these disparities.
The forthcoming Casey Commission is a critical moment for change. SCIE welcomes this opportunity to reimagine a care system that is fairer, more sustainable, and focused on tackling inequality. The Commission’s ambition to establish a National Care Service with consistent national standards is an important step in addressing the postcode lottery that leaves too many without the care they need.
Kathryn Smith OBE
Chief Executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
Notes to editors
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) improves the lives of people of all ages by co-producing, sharing, and supporting the use of the best available knowledge and evidence about what works in practice. We are a leading social care improvement independent charity working with organisations that support adults, families and children across the UK. We also work closely with related services such as health care and housing. We improve the quality of care and support services for adults and children by:
- Identifying and sharing knowledge about what works and what’s new.
- Supporting people who plan, commission, deliver and use services to put that knowledge into practice.
- Informing, influencing and inspiring the direction of future practice and policy.
Our mission is to support best practice, shape policy and raise awareness of the importance of social care, working together. With the government’s ambition of reducing consultancy bills, SCIE can serve as the not-for-profit partner of government, working collaboratively to identify and implement improvements.
If you have any questions regarding this submission, please do not hesitate to contact media@scie.org.uk