By Baroness Glenys Thornton, Chair of the Board at SCIE
It is with great pride that SCIE has now reached the significant milestone of being in existence for 25 years. Whilst the social care landscape has been through significant challenges and changes, our vision as a charity remains steadfast in that we will always strive for a society to enable everyone who draws on social care to live fulfilling lives.
What a moment to be marking this milestone. After years of debate about the future of social care, there is a renewed sense of ambition and momentum for meaningful reform. The Prime Minister’s recent commitment to a fully funded National Care Service in the next Parliament, alongside the accelerated Casey Commission and plans to improve pay and conditions for care workers, signals an important opportunity to reshape care for generations to come. For those of us who have long championed better care and support, this is a welcome moment of possibility, and one we must seize together.
Of course, the scale of the challenge remains significant. With growing demand, pressures on the workforce and local services, and persistent inequalities in access to care, the need for change has never been clearer. As reforms across health, local government and housing gather pace, we have a real opportunity to build a more joined-up, preventative and equitable system. One that balances national consistency with local flexibility, and above all puts people’s choices, experiences and aspirations at its heart. The test of success will be whether these ambitions translate into tangible improvements in people’s everyday lives.
For 25 years we have brought together evidence, lived experience and policy, translating them into daily practice; working with Government, local authorities, people with lived experience, care providers, academics and the voluntary sector, to drive improvements and innovation. Originally established by the last Labour government to improve the quality of care and support across England, we have delivered this support through our 4 offers of innovative consultancy, expert training, extensive resources and evidence-based insights. But while we can reflect on the past and how much we have achieved, our 25th year sees us sharply focused on our unique role in turning best practice insights and lived experience into practical change, to help shape the National Care Service of the future.
SCIE has evolved alongside the sector, from providing trusted guidance and resources to becoming a leading improvement partner, supporting innovation, strengthening practice and helping organisations navigate change. From supporting the implementation of the Care Act 2014 to advancing co-production, digital innovation and care equity, we have continued to adapt our expertise to meet the sector’s changing needs. As we look ahead, our ambition is to build on this legacy: championing evidence-led improvement, bringing together the right voices and helping turn the promise of reform into better, fairer care and support for everyone.
Over the coming weeks and months, alongside our new refreshed branding, we will share reflections on our past and how our trusted expertise and knowledge can be a crucial part of the future social care landscape.
I would like to thank all of our partners, funders, supporters, and our amazing team of staff and lived experience members; our success over the last 25 years is because of you all, and we look forward to continuing to work with you and alongside you for the future to improve lives, collaborating and innovating in care.
