A GREAT LAUNCH OF THE SHA/KONP CAMPAIGN TO END THE CRISIS IN SOCIAL CARE
On 10th October, SHA joined forces with Keep Our NHS Public, with the support of WeOwnIt,
to launch our campaign to transform social care.
Watch it here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsDY7q-rVYM&feature=youtu.be
With over 280 people registering, it was clearly a popular and vital issue.
The day before, a poll conducted by Survation and commissioned by WeOwnIt showed that 64% of respondents said they wanted to see care homes run by public bodies. 61% believe that private care providers prioritise profit over delivering a high quality service.
Participants heard excellent and meaty contributions from Unison and GMB, outlining their policies on social care and the currents fights for pay justice.. Two disabled speakers offered an insightful summary of independent living and democratic co-design of services with users. The National Pensioners Convention summarised their recent publication “Goodbye Cinderella” focusing in the benefits for older people of a coordinated National Care Service. The leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council described how they have provided free homecare and Barnet Council Labour Group showed how they have been challenging their Tory council to deliver the real spirit of the Care Act, not merely it shadowy form.
The Women’s Budget Group offered a powerful justification for a new economic settlement based around a caring society and showed how investing in social care reaps huge economic, health and care dividends.
Finally John McDonnell spoke clearly and passionately about the need for a National Care Service, based on the campaigns key demands. He also warned that the Tories may offer up an insurance-based service as a route to shoring up the shaky private sector market in social care.
Speakers endorsed the 7 demands of our campaign:
- National Care Support and Independent Living Service (NaCSILS)
The Government shall have responsibility for and duty to provide a National Care and Supported Living Service to provide care, independent and supported living, adopting into English Law Articles from the UN Convention on rights of disabled people that establish choice and control, dignity and respect, at the heart of person-centred planning. - Fully funded through government investment and progressive taxation, free at the point of need and fully available to everyone living in this country.
- Publicly provided and publicly accountable:
The NaCSILS will have overall responsibility for publicly provided residential homes and service providers and, where appropriate, for the supervision of not-for-profit organisations and user-led cooperatives funded through grants allocated by the NaCSILS. A long-term strategy would place an emphasis on de-institutionalisation and community-based independent and supported living. All provision will deliver to NaCSILS national standards. There will be no place for profiteering and the market in social care will be brought to an end. - Mandated nationally, locally delivered:
The Government will be responsible for developing within the principles of co-production, a nationally mandated set of services that will be democratically run, designed, and delivered locally. Local partnerships would be led by stakeholders who are delivering, monitoring, referring to or receiving supported services or budgets, e.g. organisations representing disabled people (DPOs), older people, and people who use mental health and other services, in partnership with local authorities and the NHS. - Identify and address needs of informal carers, family and friends providing personal support:
The NaCSILS will ensure a comprehensive level of support freeing up family members from personal and/or social support tasks so that the needs of those offering informal support, e.g. family and friends, are acknowledged in ways which values each person’s lifestyles, interests, and contributions. - National NaCSILS employee strategy fit for purpose:
The NCSLS standards for independent and supported living will be underpinned by care and support staff or personal assistants who have appropriate training, qualifications, career structure, pay and conditions to reflect the skills required to provide support services worthy of a decent society. - Support the formation of a taskforce on independent and supported living with a meaningful influence, led by those who require independent living support, from all demographic backgrounds and regions. This would also make recommendations to address wider changes in public policy.
Many people were unable to get into the meeting because it was oversubscribed. It is clear that this is a vital issue that resonates strongly with the public and that this is the most propitious time for such a campaign.
If you were unable to attend , watch the event here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsDY7q-rVYM&feature=youtu.be
We shall now consider actions over the next few months that could include petitions, motions to the Labour Party, work with Parliament, continued discussion with the Shadow Health and Social Care Team.
JOIN US!
WE CALL ON SHA BRANCHES FOR SUPPORT
THERE WILL BE A FOLLOW-UP MEETING ON 2ND NOVEMBER TO PLAN OUR NEXT STEPS
Details will follow