Whilst the inquiry could not estimate the full cost that we, as a country, are paying for inaction, the case for change is clear.
This report provides further sobering confirmation of the deep and systemic challenges facing the social care sector. This evidence is clear: inaction is not an option for the people who rely on care and support, unpaid carers, our NHS and the economy.
When properly resourced and delivered with compassion and expertise, social care is not a burden on the economy—it is a vital investment in people’s lives and communities. High-quality social care transforms lives, enabling people to live with greater independence, dignity and purpose. Social care done well reduces pressure on the NHS, strengthens community ties, and helps people thrive.
The social care system may be ‘broken’, but it is not beyond repair. The Casey Commission gives us a real opportunity to get off the merry-go-round of reports and commissions, but nothing by way of lasting change. The Casey Commission has the opportunity to transform the social care sector into a robust, equitable, and efficient system.
Kathryn Smith OBE
Chief Executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)