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SCIE and The Access Group lead sector drive to define national standards of care

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) and The Access Group are bringing together people who draw on care and support, sector leaders and practitioners to shape the future of adult social care in England.

This government set out plans in its manifesto to reform the adult social care system. This will include creating a National Care Service underpinned by national standards, delivering consistency of care across the country. However, the details of what those standards will entail, and how they will be delivered, are still to be determined.

To support this ambition, SCIE and The Access Group are convening a series of policy roundtables to develop a framework for national standards of care. The initiative will build a shared vision of how national standards can deliver consistency, equity and quality across the country.

The four roundtables, which will take place in October and November, will explore key themes including purpose and personalisation, data and technology, integration across health and housing and accountability. Insights from these discussions will be published in a report in January 2026 and submitted to the Casey Commission to inform Phase One of its work.

Good social care supports people of all ages to live with dignity, independence and confidence—but its availability is determined by a postcode lottery that leaves too many behind. National standards can act as a levelling force, clarifying expectations for people drawing on care, providers, and commissioners alike, without undermining local innovation.

Through these roundtables, we are doing the work to build the framework in which national standards can be developed—turning ambition into practical, actional proposals that are grounded in lived experience, evidence and frontline practice.

If this government’s vision of a National Care Service is to succeed, it cannot be another top-down exercise in Whitehall design. These standards must be co-produced with the people who use and deliver care every day. By bringing together voices from across the sector, we have a real chance to break the cycle of short-term fixes and create a lasting settlement; one that is consistent, equitable and, above all, focused on what really matters to people’s lives.

Kathryn Marsden OBE (formerly Kathryn Smith)

Chief Executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)

National standards of care represent a pivotal opportunity to transform how social care operates across England. Technology and data are fundamental to making these standards work in practice—from enabling real-time monitoring of care quality to ensuring accountability and transparency across the sector.

The Access Group is proud to partner with SCIE on these roundtables. By bringing together operational insights from the care sector with the latest technological capabilities, we can help shape standards that are both ambitious and achievable.

This isn’t about imposing rigid systems or creating more bureaucracy. It’s about building a framework where technology supports continuous improvement, where data drives better decisions and where every person receiving care benefits from the collective learning of the entire sector. We look forward to contributing our expertise and ensuring the national standards are equipped for the digital future of social care.

Anisa Byrne

Managing Director at Access Care

Sector stakeholders were approached to participate in this roundtable series in August. The series has now hit capacity. If you are interested in joining the waiting list for this series, please contact George Appleton, Head of External Affairs at george.appleton@scie.org.uk

About SCIE

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 independent social care charity working with organisations that support adults, families and children across the UK.

If you have any questions regarding this submission, please do not hesitate to contact Molly Pennington, Press and Media Relations Officer, at molly.pennington@scie.org.uk

About The Access Group

Access Health, Support and Care, part of The Access Group, is a leading provider of health and care management software, trusted by over 14,000 registered care locations, over 25 NHS Trusts and more than 200 local authorities across the UK. For more information, please visit: https://www.theaccessgroup.com/en-gb/health-social-care/

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